That's very poo. When my ceramic exhaust wheel shattered it was nice enough to fall into the cat and not disturb anything else.
Apparently my engines bottom end is in very good condition and has never been opened up before and there was no damage to any parts or anything. But you never can tell these things without getting a good look!
I guess it all depends on how much money you have to play around with. I looked at the RB26/30 route and when I started to add it up it seemed to get REALLY expensive. Not that I necessarily went the cheapest way either. Like you when choosing I had the same problem, besides the R35 the only GTR I have ever been in is my own.