The VE has an advantage on these points. Dual Cam Profiles for Daily Driver comfort, Reliability over the turbo motor, Max NA Power potential.
However in my opinion you get more for your dollar spent from the DE and the DET. Just a stock VE swap will get you close or past the $2k mark. What you need for a stock ve swap. MOtor, JWT or Calum or Other Ecu, Exhaust pipe to mate manifold with cat, cam trigger. The setup I just described above is basically a stock VE swap. A factory new VE will only give you 187 HP crank. Thats 159 hp to the wheels with 15% drive train loss. I 'm just talking for myself but 2K is a lot of money to spend for just 159 HP.
A DE could out power a stock VE with less then 2K in mods. A Tiger Japanese DEt is going for 690 dollars right now. VE is a good motor no doubt but for small budgets I really do feel your money is better spent on the older technology.