18 years racing SCCA, I actually got to prefer the sound of a 4CYL race engine. Many years ago they put a bunch of modified big block "grain truck" engines in mid-sized sedans. They had the same kind of discussions about the differences in sound and performance. I was on the small block side...
I think you might be a little near sighted in your observations on the 2.3L.
I installed an SVO 2.3L Lima turbo engine in my Pinto a few decades ago. It was all cast iron with only one cam with fixed timing and only EEC-IV electronics.
It was a MONSTER above 3000RPM and scoffed at 150MPH...