I think you made a good choice. All your reasons equal up to a very good excuse to keep that car. I owned my mini for a year before i HAD to sell it because of a job transfer... just be glad you have a MINI still! And one that you've put many fun miles and memories in.

And good luck on the spec miata... that was my pre-MINI and post-MINI choice, only it's my daily driver

sounds like either way you couldnt have gone wrong

on another note any interest in selling that second set of koseis, or are they for autoX days?

75k is the killer