Yepp, Gary's got it in one there. These are both great cars, one's undisputably faster, more powerful and has a shinier petrol cap, the other's got a number of other benefits (some equally undisputable, some less so).
Why is it that a number of us feel our self esteem threatened when others express a fondness for their own car, and feel the need to put down their choice? For those of us lucky enough to own one of these fine automobiles, which one we prefer is always likely to be coloured by which one we own at the time.
Each of these cars is a compromise, like every other vehicle on the road. I'm happy with the compromise I chose at the time (my choice was between the SE and the NC, as the SP was too old for the lease company I'm stuck with to even consider).
Cheers,
Alf