Ed30 would be my choice if it had to be a Golf.
It is lighter, faster, more tunable (within a reasonable budget), better looking, less expensive to road tax, less expensive on fuel and less expensive to insure.
However the R32 wins on noise, smoothness, seats (GTi seats are crap in my opinion) and grip/traction.
The R32 is sure to depreciate harder than the GTi now thanks to our (not so) wonderful government and their awesome backdated C02 Road Tax policy and increasing fuel prices. On the other hand, off the line and on damp/wet days, the R32 could still utilise most of its performance where the Ed30 would spin its tyres.
Also, for basic mods (not adding/changing turbos) the R32 might come close to 300bhp - for the same money an Ed30 could have close on 350bhp (intercooler, fuel pump, intake, map and exhaust).