I've always liked my Golf R/P, but I'm comparing it to the stock steering box, not to a more modern set-up. I know it's not the same thing as a rack that's centered. Once I get the "shop across the street" project finished and I get some traction again, I'd like to embark on (another) fool's errand to see just how good a beam can be made to be. I know it'll never be an A-arm, but I really do think there's a lot of gray between the black of a stock VW beam and the white of a good A-arm set-up.
I'm super-interested in @DannyP's impressions of the Alex77 setup, as I know they'll be straightforward and unvarnished.