I need to ask....with your mods...if you could only do:

1). Header/cai/hondata flash/down pipe

2). 4.44 final drive

which in your opinion mad the most dramatic performance
increase?

I can only budget right now for #1 or #2....then in the
future I'll add the other.

 

If I may chime in here...

Comparing your option 1 and 2 here...

Header is not going to do much for you unless your doing a TP and Exhaust with it... CAI you should do either way, K&N FIPK sounds awesome, adds a horse or two, and only cost $250. And BOSS, a DownPipe is for a Turbo, which you don't have? If your going to do the Hondata Reflash, you should do the Intake Manifold Gasket as well... All in all, this package is about the sound of the car, and a tiny increase in WHP...

4.44's will change the way the car drives; It becomes easier to stay in Vtec, slightly quicker launches, you will shift more often and lose a bit of top speed/hwy comfort... If you get a Quality set... They should be stronger than stock so your bulletproofing your rear end. But unless your really driving your S hard enough to need any of this?

Judging by your post... I say keep saving, and keep reading. Learning and deciding what is best for you, is a lot cheaper than buying parts for a incredibly well tuned car...

Cheers