The 5th gen does have a rev limit of 8000 of sorts. It is actually a Fuel Cutoff. You can go that high-BUT the ECU is set to start the cut at 7400 actual-not what the Tach says. There is some evidence that you cannot sit and wind up the motor and dump the clutch-this is actually the case for the SS tranny. Honda does not do any tricks in their dealerships to affect the way the ECU works-they would be voiding their own warranty and the federal certification if they did. Our Tach's are notorious for their accuracy issues. Another thing, the ECU is setup to go into LIMP mode when you throw a CEL-which you say you have. Replace the O2 sensor and the engine should run above 6500.

The best source for moe info is the Helm manual-www.helminc.com