you may want to ask the autox forum these questions also.

heres my take on it:

you want to better handle your car, learn your car. take some classes on how to drive. got that from rick.

your tires is the only part of the suspen that makes contact with the ground, best to upgrade those.

"upgrade" to springs with a stiffer spring rate, and with that, also shocks that can keep up with the rebounds.