You could always buy a new USDM ITR head. They're roughly $1400 and you get everything except the valve cover, vtec solenoid and distributor. You'll have a valvetrain designed to buzz 8500 rpm and ITR cams to boot. If you're buying a GSR head for $1000, you're not getting the ITR cams and the sucker is used---no telling what condition the camshaft journals/housing are in.

As for reliability, a block girdle and ARP rod bolts should suffice. If you want to go all out and save some wear on the cylinders (due to low r/s ratio), lightened rods and pistons would go a long way.

I dunno why people complain about weak rods. I've seen a rod TWISTED around three times by sticking it in a table vice and twisting the small end with a breaker bar. It didn't snap. It's the bolts that would give before the rod. I'm pretty sure all the rods I've seen give were a result of a rod bolt breaking or a piston siezing. This rant is already too long...i'm stopping.