Sorry it's taken so long to comment, but I've been constipated so I haven't had much time to read. 
You hit the nail on the head about fixing Autocross. IT IS BROKE! Back in the day it worked because the crowds were sooooo much smaller.
As it sits now it's BORING to get 2 minutes of seat time for an investment of 10-12 hours standing around and working - IN THE HEAT and usually with no shade. I've espoused the exact same fix for over 10 years now.
As far as the making cars like the originals, it wasn't about a groundbreaking design or necessarily the newest and greatest technology, it all boiled down to weight. You see fanbois for any number of obscure older cars and the fun factor there also boils down to weight. Why is the answer always Miata - WEIGHT! A lighter car is a more fun car to drive. Plus as Colin Chapman said, weight is power!
