To each her/his own.
I love my IV generation OB except for the front bumper. I have done some classic moderate trails, never had a problem with the rear. The front will occasionally require you to build rocks or dump rocks into a narrow, deep drainage. This is about the one advantage a Forester has over the OB except where the latter is too big (see my Hey Joe Canyon warning on the OB forum, I barely got out w/o drama--and it was either out with no issues or out with A LOT of drama). But I got there because of a navigational mistake. The OB is still much smaller than a lot of what people take on trails in the US.
Other than that, the IV gen OB will be a massive upgrade in terms of traction and power. In the absence of X-mode you will still need to master the break pedal to descent challenging hills. But I do not think that a manual Forester with DR is set low enough to allow you to use the LR alone on really steep hills. I know the one I saw in action (a US Legacy with Aussie DR) could not.
Here is all I feel is necessary for mine:
#1. 0.5 spacers. 0.75 make the alignment tricky. 1.00 make it impossible w/o a separate kit, which repositions the rear wheel in the center of the well. This is what I was told by Primitive's owner. In my case, the Subaru dealer installed the 0.5 spacers, finding them to fit very well. They told me the alignment was a breeze.
#2. 225-65-17 tires. I still do not have those. However, I checked how they would fit. The rear, surprisingly, is just fine. All spacers push the rear wheels FW, but there was no rubbing. Up front, this size tires will require removing of the splash guards or trimming a bit their inner corner.
#3. Skid plates. I have Primitive's full set. They look great, by which I mean that they cover so much: the whole front, the AT with the two CATS, and the rear differential. They are also quite sturdy. Of course, a serious hit could still result in vehicle damage, skid plates or not. But they have deflected countless gravel and small stones from the undercarriage already.
I am not personally interested in any other mods. Once I have the larger tires, I will be able to go everywhere I want to go. And, honestly, there is just one road/trail that I really want to do for which I know I do need that extra clearance. For the rest, it is more about convenience of use than actual need. As for the tougher trails, virtually all of them can be hiked. An unexpected super rough spot in the middle of nowhere is a different story, but patience, some rocks, and a spotter can go a long way, as you know better than I do
THE SUSPENSION IS FABULOUS! The comfort it allows over off-pavement and even rocks is astonishing.
I do not understand the, well, lack of understanding:iconwink: that newer models find on this forum. Albeit heavier and bigger than their predecessors, they feature AWD systems that are vastly superior. The H6 5 EAT is also as reliable a powertrain as one can hope to purchase these days. That matters a great deal to me.
Also, the OB has a very good clearance at rocker panel. With 0.5 spacers and a notch larger tires, it would be close to a full foot. That is pretty good. It actually has a bit more clearance there than the new Foz.
All in all, the front bumper is pretty much the one worry I have. Although it is sometimes annoying, it is not THAT much of a worry. And let's not forget that the Forester's 24-25 degree AA is nothing to write home about either (30 deg plus on dedicated off-roaders, 40+ on the Wrangler...).