I've always loved the Cayman. Someday, I'd like to buy a used S with a manual.
... but the C8 'vette is a legit 500 hp, mid-engined supercar, with a sub $60K sticker. So even if the 'vettes at the Cheby store are larded up and selling over sticker, new Caymans are going for about $100K by the time the dealer adds the $2500 this and the $3800 that. It would be nice if the Corvette styling was a bit less "creased", but for cryin' in the night-- let's not lose sight of what the General is selling here (and for what price).
GM has made some strange decisions over the years, but the LS (and now LT) small-blocks are miracles of modern mass-manufacturing. By the time the 'vette is rolled out in ZO6 and ZR-1 form (for less than a GT4), the performance will be approaching GT2 and Ferrari level.
If enough people scream about the lack of a third pedal, I'll bet Tremec will come up with something to rectify that as well. That this car is in production 10 years after the company almost went belly up should be an answer to all the "Government Motors" nonsense. What's good for GM is good for the country, and what's good for the country is good for GM.
We live in the golden age of performance.