Mine should be done by the 10th of Jan or sooner but if you want to hear "about" what it's going to sound like, listen to DLF's exhaust clip on the 1st page of this thread. He had headers and a different type of high flow cats but the sound should be very close to the same.
As for the finish, I was only making sure I was getting SS but Magnaflow apparently polishes just about everything they make or they chrome their parts. Length wise, I went short with mine and not all have an X inside. Some are muffled straight through, just like straight pipes but mufflers built into it. I'm just not looking for loudness. I did think about going with the muffled X and no mufflers but after hearing a couple at WOT, I decided against it.
I would have it put in sooner but the mufflers haven't shown up yet and when they do, I want to take it to the shop to see if they will run their SS pipe with mandrel bends for the same price or less than the kit that's online, minus the labor of course. I'll most likely end up ordering the kit because I have recently remembered that I have an ex-family member that used to do exhaust for a living and now he works out of his own garage and I'll be able to drive there quietly and not cut anything. He can cut it off. Just depends on him having the time. If not, I'll have a shop do it and I'll cut the cat and res off myself first.
They are all stainless steel I just wanted save the 35 bucks for natural vs the polished since no one is ever going to see the underside but me. I too am going to order the madrel bent kit but not doing stainless as the car will only be a fair weather car and drivin in the winter either. Again to save some money and not looking for flash just function at the best price. I may spurge for the nice oval tips as they add a lot to the over all appearance.
Looking forward to seeing how yours turns out.