The people you know are not building them properly then. If they are screwed together right, and have a good tune, there is absolutely no reason a CA with forged pistons and rods will not make that kind of powers, and more, all day every day. I'd like to know exactly what was going wrong with them?
Where the SR falls down somewhat is the physical size of the thing, especially when sticking them in oldskool engine bays. The alloy block does not help and there is all of 5kg's difference between the two. Aftermarket support for both engines is excellent yadda yadda yadda...