Good choice.
I looked at the SS and the SRT8 cherokee. I liked them both, the cherokee better, but you are right, the extra 10-15k is just not worth it.
I bailed on both of them based on both of them get worse gas mileage than what i already have.
I read in some of the SS forums, that some guys claim 17mpg to 19mpg, which is odd because others claim 9 mpg.
As far as a performance suv goes, the ss is the best bang for your buck.
Too bad ford gave us the adrenaline, just without the 03 cobra engine from the prototype.