Help me choose number 6

[Hocrest]

On Saturday I was heading to DC for a job and my SVX started making a grinding noise. I got of the highway as the noise was getting worse. As I pulled into a parking lot, I think I have it ID'd as a bad front diff... Call AAA, get towed to Cressona home and jump in the Legacy.

I came down to Cressona to vote today and verified that yes, the front diff is phuked. For the new folks here is my tranny history.

Nov 2003 - Buy car with suspect trans, hope to get 6-12 months of decent shifting.
Dec 2003 - Trans dies, Have local shop put in a SOA rebuild.
Feb 2004 - SOA rebuild dies, local dealer puts in another SOA rebuild under warranty
Summer 2005 - 2nd SOA rebuild dies, out of warranty. Put in a stock from the junkyard.
Summer 2006 - Trans dies, install another stock from a parts car. Also add external filter.
Summer 2006 +2 days - Realize that I plumbed the external filter backwards as I toast another. Install a SOA rebuild pulled out of the junkyard.

As you can see I really like the stock gearing, so don't recommend a 4.44. My thoughts are;
1 - Stock gearing LAN rebuild - $2,000 to $4,000. Should be the last transmission I put into it.
2 - Pull trans and swap a new front diff - $200.00. I have a diff in the basement, and the trans seems to be shifting great.
3 - 5 spd WRX trans - $1,500 to $2,000. I've driven a few 5/6 spd SVX's and while I agree that it does turn it into a different car. I'm not sure if I like that car better???
4 - 5 spd 4.11 trans I have in my basement. - Under $1,000. I seem to recall someone mentioning about using a higher 5th gear in these transmissions to give a better highway cruising speed?? Any more info on this???