I was surprised when I saw it might have Competition software since as far as I was aware (how it was marketed anyway at the time), the Pure Edition in SA was meant to reduce the entry point for the M4 to juuuust a hair under R1M (
HERE) and hence it didn't have much in the way of options. Perfect if you were not in need of all those boxes ticked or to use as a base to mod anyway.
Suspension wise, if I think about how I drove my F10 and how I drive my F90 (granted these are M5s and not 3/4s), unless it is a very long trip, I hit my M buttons for presets as soon as they are up to temp and the suspension is in sport or sport plus on those. Even though there is a noticeable difference between settings, it is all relative and actually NOT hard or particularly stiff vs an 'actual' sportscar/track car type of a thing (like the GTS/DTM). You actually find yourself wanting that engagement (or else why bother with an M car of any size/kind). If you are going to drive it like that the 'base' suspension is going to be perfectly fine for you in that it is somewhere between Sport and Sport plus on the adaptive suspension (according to the internet anyway). Take anything you read on these things with a pinch of salt. Everyone's tolerances are different. What people in reviews describe as 'major differences' might seem minor to you in practice (or just in terms of your preferences). It is the nature of people - they will always be dissatisfied with something and yet when everything is great, they will find it boring/characterless/clinical.
Modding wise? IMHO If you had to drive a comp F10/F90 vs. my 'base' cars with the retrofitted Competition swaybars & ACS Springs (F10) or MP/KW HAS kit on it (F90), you would be hard pressed to tell the difference in terms of comfort.
If you can get a comp, then get a comp for sure, particularly since the price delta vs. a base car is not that huge and retrofitting those things (like the seats) is a frustrating and/or costly exercise.
If you can only find the base car, with no adaptive suspension in your price range/with the options you want, then think about how you will realistically be using it.
Ultimately the only solution here is to drive these yourself, back to back if possible. It is just too subjective. I can drive my carbon tub, very stiff and uncomfortable 4C long distances without complaint and I really would have to buy a GT3 RS because the GT3 is too civilised... You will have others who need a GT3 touring because their tolerances and preferences are different and the normal GT3 is too hard core for them. You also have people who base performance of a suspension on how 'hard' it is and some who think 'fitting coilies' is the height of suspension performance tuning... while others can give detailed feedback about exactly what they want to 'fix' on the car to work with their driving style on specific tracks etc.
