For me hot hatches are still a good compromise between performance and practicality. At present I've got a Mk7.5 Gti Performance Pack and if I were to change that, I certainly wouldn't buy a MK8 due to all the software issues, but I would buy an F40 t128i or M135i as their build quality is excellent in comparison.
Would stick to the M135i as an alternative, I have had a 66 plate R, 69 plate TCR and now a 128Ti as my last three rides, and wife currently has 2109 R and been asked more about what the 128Ti is more than others, so that's looks ticked, the cabin and media are excellent (though i think the MK 7.5 interior is excellent also) but the drive of the 128Ti does let it down.
The gearbox can get a little lazy in comfort, so you have to be permanently in sport, which is not really a problem, ratio is good enough for all conditions, but Sport + (flick lever to left) is way too high in ratio.
It has no real exhaust note at all, you do not get any deep tones or overruns that get in the Golf R, it's pretty mute.
The worst aspect however is the torque steer and in wet, it feels a little insecure when on a B road, so you just do not push it on.
The ride is good, and passengers love the car as its quite lush inside, we done plenty of family and friends trips out in it, and it ticks all the boxes as a day to day car.
The engine itself is lovely, super strong, linear pull, goes in a straight line rapidly as quick as all cars mentioned above in the dry.
The 128Ti is a great car, really good stab at a GTI by BMW, it looks great and has excellent interior and media, but drive does let it down at highest level for the driver, and even though have 18 months left of the lease, already counting down days till can get myself a MK 7.5 R to replace it, which think is the best VW have produced all around.
On the hot hatchback subject, I like most on here, are the target market, its all ever driven, and would be open to an EV hot hatch back, but there would be some convincing, it would have to look the part, have interior up to standard of the BMW and the MK 7.5 R in quality and it would have to drive them twisty B roads in same manner also, and maybe you will miss the exhaust note, maybe some fakery or some other electric motor 'wind up' makes up for it, but the drive is still the most important factor.
Infrastructure is then the next hurdle, its nowhere near there for those without drive, and the final hurdle, new car prices and more so EV, with presently huge depreciation on GFV would not presently have you go near one at small mortgage costs!
This is why happy to go little back in time, to a MK 7.5 R, such a great car at reasonable cost compared to the new, which have priced me completely out of consideration.