Here's thing on the comparison with 4.2's and LSX's. I have to deal with Mustang owners on a weekly basis at our local car meets. They say the same exact thing you say, CAP. "You can't compare engines, man. 4.2 vs. 5.7? Come on!" Well, how can you NOT compare a Z28 with a Mustang GT? That's the way it's been for decades! Like I said it's what Ford puts in them and there's just no way around that until Ford decides something different. A friend of mine drives a new Mustang Shelby. When he can he parks next to my Z. The first time he did that the Mustang owners took note. One guy even came over and said, "Why is that Mustang parked next to a Camaro?" To which I replied, "Because he can and he wanted to. And for the record, the Camaro got there first, as usual."
To paraphrase what LBJ said in The Right Stuff, "Mustang owners! Is there anybody that can deal with a Mustang owner?!?"