Hatch WRX EJ25 vs STI EJ25

[omzb147]

I have been researching about buying a WRX hatch for a few days. I want to trade into one with about 40-60k miles and I don't wanna pay for an STI, a WRX is in my budget but I could wait another year and save the difference, no real rush. Now I have found many examples of WRX gearboxes taking a dump and EJ's blowing up. I want to know if there is a strength and reliability difference between the EJ's. I want to sell my standard civic and buy a WRX as a daily. I'll probably do the usual bolt on's like exhaust and intake, Cobb access port and BOV. I think id be happy around 300hp. With a setup like this would the car be reliable? If I beat on it (within reason ofc) would it handle it, or would paying for the STI be better for what I want. Lastly I want the option of building the engine and going for 400+hp eventually. Can all of this can be done within the WRX platform or would it be wiser to invest into the STI.

Also buying an S2000 to go supercharged as show car, so I might not go 400+ in the WRX.