Sounds like your priorities are in proper order, so you're excused from giving up your VX.
From what I've seen of them, it doesn't seem like you'd be straying too far from the VX if you went with the Crosstrek, but the best choice at this point is what's best for you.
Good luck with the future cheetah!
thanks Y33TREKke, I ended up buying a 2014 Nissan Juke Nismo with manual trans