So, As much of a hands on guy I am, i still think that it would be better for me to go to work for 8 hours, and buy a premade board, then to learn my way through it for 16...

I may still buy the unassembled kit, as funds are always short.
My question is about the MSII 3.57 surface mount. Can I still solder and such to it? My soldering skills are far from perfect, and my iron is a standard DIY gun.
Question is yes/no on the 3.57 board.

 

You can still solder to it, or add a daughtercard if you want, but soldering/de-soldering on that board can be more difficult than with the same mods on a normal v3 board.

For example, for the rx7's stock MAT sensor, you'll want to change the air temperature bias resistor for one in the 30-50kohm range. It's easier to do this at build-time than after you get a built board.

That said, I've used the 3.57 board (my "plug 'n play" units use this) and they work fine.

Ken