commetic head gaskets do not have a bad rep. Only problems I have ever seen with them was caused by the installer. (not surfacing the head/block, using head bolt/washers that were not right, and not re-torquing after letting the engine warm up etc).
They work great on boosted cars. when do you need a metal head gasket on a non forced induction engine?
Also I don’t know a lot about engines other than mine but to need something stronger than the OEM gasket you have to push some serious power, something like ~200hp per liter depending on the engine.
I would never use non OEM head gasket or timing belt unless I know I need it.