I purchased the brace because it appeared to offer more clearance for aftermarket exhaust systems than the stock part. The stock piece has a weld below the exhaust tunnel that can be problematic. The cusco brace allowed for plenty of clearance for the exhaust. The car does feel a bit stiffer. It is not super noticeable when just cruising around, but during spirited driving, the car feels stiffer. The install was a breeze and took about 10-15mins. The reason I am only giving 4 stars is that the supplied bolts are extremely soft and one ended up getting rounded out by the allen key. This was partially my fault, but figured it was worth noting so that others can be more careful than I was.
