The definition of "practical" may be different for each one of us, some people even ride motorcycles and find them pretty good for daily commutes but realistically, I'd imagine the majority of owners, even performance car ones, expect rear seats to be in the standard equipment. Even EVO on its recent uber hatch test that awarded the CS-S 1st place, stated that "probably a standard Clubsport with PSC2 tyres will tick more boxes for most buyers". To me at least, the CS-S was not even a contender during my "next car" search a few months back as its failure to transport 3 people ruled it out from the start.
Just a few thoughts on whether and how much more special the CS-S feels than the CS, as it was mentioned as an alternative a few posts back:
Marketing aside and looking at technical facts and data, a standard Clubsport with its uprated suspension, geometry and steering rack is already a much more capable Golf than any of its brothers that hardly needed a 15kg weight saving from the rear seats to go round the ring in less than 07:50. This is something that you feel from the very first turn you take with the car, especially if you've just come out of an R test-drive. That's why it serves as the base for 90%+ for the CS-S. Respecting the variant hierarchy and ensuring the R was still the flagship model in people's eyes were the true reasons behind the CS-S (call me: CS over-boost function). A 400 limited edition with what is interpreted as terminal impracticality (for 99,9% of car buyers) was the least upsetting way to do it. Which is also why the mechanical differences between the two variants are very particular and well... simple. If the base car was not already very near to that performance level or lacked the steering feel, it would take some serious modifications to get there. As an example, try upgrading just the hub carriers, brake bells, pads and fiddle with the geometry on another ordinary car. You think you'd end up with a car that feels any special at all? Answer: no....
Another very important factor is that the two cars are identical in terms of looks/bodykit. It would be hard to ignore an even more aggressive/sportier/sexier look/interior as it usually happens with the top uber-sport variants (think Porsche) as hard as it is to do the same between an R and a Clubsport for example, but between a CS and CS-S this simply isn't the case. So there goes a real "special" factor that could have been gained in favor of the CS-S. That I agree, would have been very hard to match (aesthetic modifications usually end up looking much worse than mechanical ones, if it's not there from the factory, it will never look as good).
I know the OP has mentioned future values, collectors attraction etc. that surely could be in favor of the CS-S (compared to the CS) but that's another discussion, which can only be held at a theoretical level until a few years go by.
(This is not about which is the best car to buy and please spare me from comments in that spirit...)
