Looking for advice on performance, Swap, hybrid, rebuild? Options

[Delta_Phoenix]

I've already made my cosmetic and suspension plans for my Celica that will come in the future, but now I have to think about what is going to be under the hood. Sometimes it only frustrates me to think about it so I figured I would get some ideas and opinions.

OK, so far I've pretty much ruled out a 7a-fte project. It just doesn't seem like it will pay off in the long run. The minimum goal I'm wanting to achieve is 250 whp, and 250 lb-ft. of torque. How I get that... I really don't care. The problem I'm having is that I don't know where to start. I want something that is going to completely blow people's minds when they see it. I know that getting something like that requires custom work - and I'm not talking about the homemade kind (unless you're someone that knows how to do it). I don't know anyone at all that can make custom headers, mounts, intakes, piping, etc.

I know that probably the most fun project would be a 7a-gte. I'm really impressed by frotou's project. After seeing all the custom work he's had done, I doubt I would ever be able to pull something like that off. I guess the only other option I have would to be a 4a-gze or 3s-gte swap. After seeing all the trouble that John went through with his 4a-gze, I'm kinda iffy about that as well. I know that the 3s-gte would give me trouble since I have an ST. I haven't done that much research about it. I don't know which generation of the 3s-gte is better, or if it's more common to find a USDM 3s-gte for the swap or a JDM 3s-gte. Sitting around and thinking about all this just makes me want to turn the Celica into a beater and save up for an EVO. But despite that, all my friends say I should keep the Celica and fix it up beyond belief. I guess that's the path I'll go unless a swap or hybrid project drives me insane. I am by no means a car expert, and I wouldn't even touch my engine in any way other than to change the oil, spark plugs, belts, or any other job that a monkey with a wrench could do successfully. I'm all about tearing it apart to learn about it, but I wouldn't consider putting anything together on my car without some supervision (I think I got lucky when I successfully replaced my front axles). I dunno, maybe I know more about cars than I think, but I'm still nervous to do anything big.

Alright, I started rambling. So give me your ideas, opinions, criticism or anything else you can come up with.