I'm 31 -- the GTI is my dream car. I wanted one from the first time I saw a mk3, then when I got my first car (a mk4) I was really interested. I've had several mk4 8v 2.0s for a long time, but never had a GTI, until very recently when it became a financially "responsible" (as in, not going broke to get one) option. While there's a lot I'd like to do, the power is plenty for street use 90% of the time, if I'm honest with myself. So what did I do? I made it a little more noisy, and made it look (in my opinion) a little better/different.
I've got no regrets with the DV spacer so far -- if I really hammer down and run the gears out, it's fun to indulge my childhood fantasies about a "fast" car that makes turbo sounds. But around town, without a ton of throttle, the car is quiet, subdued even, and just looks like a nicely done-up GTI -- it's not crazy loud, it's stock height, and it doesn't have much in the way of blatantly aftermarket cosmetic items on it.
I get my pops & bangs fix from my autocross car, which will hopefully be getting resolved soon as it's definitely not intentional, but rather the result (I believe) of cheap plugs. I don't really like pops and bangs, and I think that for 99% of the folks who have it, two step/NLS isn't useful. But hey, let the kids have their fun. I don't play around on the street, I lost my license once and that was plenty to get the hint. Anything that matters is happening on a closed course anyway, where it's safe to give 10/10ths.