[2ndGenTeg]

So what has Johnny gained, really? Why go to the trouble of assembling an engine when you could just buy a B18C or slap a VTEC head on an LS block?

Advantages over both the B18C and LS/VTEC

-For the same price, you already have a built engine, including: forged rods and pistons, sleeved cylinders, and high compression pistons. Comparably built, a B18C or LS/VTEC would be much more expensive; first you would pay for the engine, then pay for the build-up.
-Oversquare engine geometry (bore>stroke). This is another one of those little things that will increase your redline and reduce stress on your engine internals (read: reliability). With the B16A crank, bore/stroke would be 86/77. With the B17A crank, bore/stroke would come to 86/81.4.
-Better rod/stroke ratios. Although you lose 8cc of displacement (so what?), the r/s ratio of the B18C alternative would improve from 1.58:1 to a near perfect 1.74:1. The increase in redline would more than make up for the loss in displacement. In the LS/VTEC alternative, it would improve dramatically from 1.54:1 to 1.68:1.

Additional advantages over LS/VTEC

-Uses a B17A VTEC crank. The VTEC cranks are far superior to their non-VTEC counter parts, and perform much better at high engine speeds. This is due to (among other things) better lubrication and better rod bearings (although these would more than likely be upgraded, regardless).
-Uses a B17A VTEC block. No more machining, tapping, and drilling the B18A/B block to accomodate VTEC. Much more user and installer friendly, much more reliable.
-1891cc of displacement. Remember how excited everyone was to get an extra 37cc of displacement for their VTEC motor? Well, this is an extra 94cc. Nearly three times the increase, and 57cc more than an LS/VTEC, with all the aforementioned advantages.

Between the superior engine components and geometry, and properly built (and with an adequate valvetrain), I can see this engine spinning to 12K RPM all day without a hitch. There aren't cams out there that could use 12K, but I'll bet you could. And that speaks volumes about the engine.