IMO for a performance increase you should either gut the cat (illegal) or preferrably get extractors/downpipe setup with a high flow cat lower in the exhaust setup.
(this is speaking from a turbo POV but the theory is the same), this should give you a flatter power curve with a bit more up top. Next step would be either a K&N panel filter replacement, or a pod filter and snorkel.
After this the engine should be breathing about as well as it can then you will have a good baseline for internal mods