Great color! I am slowly building up my Billet JKUR as well. I bought a 2013 about this time last year. 4.10 and auto. (My first auto trans). I specifically ordered it with minimal options because I could not find one that wasn't loaded at the dealerships. (And I have a lot to choose from down here).
So far I have added an AEV front bumper, Hotheads headliner, Ace rock rails (primarily as a step for the kids).....and an Adventure Trailer Horizon. LOL. The trailer set me back a bit on other Jeep mods. As my jeep is sort of a daily driver, I decided to get the trailer to avoid a few other mods (for a while anyway) like a roof rack and a mild lift (to handle more weight). I probably will still do a mild lift to avoid some of the sag from the trailer and other gear.
I totally get it about wanting a newer vehicle. I had a '73 Bronco with a 351W when I lived in Mammoth in the 1990s. Perfect truck for that area but I was always working on that thing. Converted it to disc brakes and built a new exhaust, etc. it was lots of fun, but in those days I didn't have the money to do the things I really wanted to do to it. Plus it was pretty uncomfortable on long drives, and always smelled like grease and oil. It had 4.11 gears and 3 speed manual so it was winding out at 65mph. Got about 9 mpg on a good day.
I used to live in Grover Beach (Santa Barbara before that) and love it on the Central Coast. I miss it so much in SLO County! Shell Beach is awesome! If you haven't tried the "Filete de Manzo" at Giuseppe's in Pismo yet, you have got to do that ASAP. You are walking distance!
Here's a shot from Anza Borrego this Spring. Had the Jeep up to Monache Meadows last summer and also up to Lassen County. So comfortable on long drives. It's as capable as the Bronco (if not more so), plus the wife actually enjoys driving it.