What cars did you crosshop with the WRX?

I'm trying to gauge those who recently bought a new VB WRX because if the question was much more broad, people would say the STI which isn't being made anymore.

Every comparison on YT seems to pit the VB with the Type R, Golf R, and GR Corolla. Price being almost equal, that is to say it's within a few thousands of your budget over/under, would you still go with the WRX even with the benefit of hindsight?

I'd love to hear people say they would still choose the WRX regardless because it is just the complete package.

Almost every video claims the GRC and if faster than the WRX and the Type R annihilates it. Even if that were true, how many of us really push the car on a commuter car? And so what if it's a second or two faster around the track, people are just having fun with it.

Is the AWD and middle ground interior fit and finish and comfort good enough for a $40,000 - $50,000 CAD car?

So what say you, if you were car shopping for a new car today, given the competition and price being somewhat irrelevant, what would you pick?