I'm running the STi pinks with the stock struts (dealer installed them on the car before purchase). They do a decent job of getting some of the air out of the wheelwells - about the same as the Swifts I'm told. I do like the linear rate springs as to the Swift's rear variable rate. I'm also running a big RSB (Perrin) and rear subframe lockout bolts that really improve the response (Whiteline).
I'm pretty happy with the ride height as I hate to feel contained. I don't slow for dips, potholes, or speedbumps - I can climb medians and park all the way up on parking stops and chin over most curbs.
I like the look of a lower setup and suspect a lower center would help cornering - but if you are braking early to power out hard, it's not as big a deal, and the higher center of gravity tends to give me a more progressive feel as the back end rotates out.
While I have replacement wheels, and the tires are 225/55R17 - the diameter measures exactly the same as the stockers.
El Sid