I know a lot of people very, very happy with the LS/VTEC. I'd recommend this. B18B bottom end, and then any B series VTEC head makes lots of power. I haven't heard any reports of bad reliability from these motors.
As for a JDM engine being illegal in a USDM chassis, well shit, I guess I'm in trouble, because I've got a JDM hybrid. It's never caused me any worries.
Anyway, any of these choices are good. You would probably even be making a big step up in performance even with just a B18B swap.