Personally I would do it. But I love performance more than gizmo. And I think there would be a lot of people who think like that, but then there obviously people who prefer the loaded option.
To me, at resale time, a base R will be a base R, worth a certain (descent?) amount. Whereas you can option up a GTI to be a solid $55k on road etc, but when you go to sell it, itwill always be a $40k car with a heap of options. Even bigger loss.
Also the R comes with XENONS standard and front and rear parking sensors with visual warning also built in stock, those led tails and then you get all the performance.
That's all on a stock R, so I think you'll agree there is quite a case for picking up a stock R, if you can stretch to it.