When the RSX-S came out and the automotive press was drooling all over it, touting performance numbers equal to the Type R but with a more 'user friendly', higher quality interior, etc, I knew I'd have to at least check the thing out. Whether you like how the exterior looks is subjective of course, but to me it looks more generic 'Japanese' than the previous version. I personally don't care for it as much. The interior IS nice, I must admit. It's to a higher general level of refinement ie quality of plastics, switchgear feel, general tones and shades, etc., not to mention the nice leather seats and the handsome steering wheel.
However, one drive convinced me that beauty is only skin deep. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice car. It's fairly quick, tight, and has that good Honda quality feeling. It is NOT, however, a Type R. Driving a R gives the driver a feeling of one-ness with the car. The handling is intuitive. The car does what you want it to do and does it because of it's exceptional handling characteristics. It just FEELS right. The best way I, as a non-professional driver, can describe the difference of feel between the 2 cars is that the type S feels that it's because of its good tires that it handles like it does, and the Type R does it because of its exceptional chassis, ie the whole package.
Not that the S is a dog; it's just not an R. You're in a no-lose position, really. You'll enjoy either car I'm sure.