I would get the FPU... make it a 50Mhz PGA FPU if you have the Blizzard 1230-IV in mind.
The FPU will get used by games like Gloom, Alien Breed 3D, AB3D2: The Killing Grounds, Breathless, Doom, XTreme Racing, TFX and more.
It'll probably only cost 30 GBP/50 USD.
On the versus subject though, if you can get another make of board for less than half the price of a Blizzard you're onto a winner - but keep in mind why there is such demand for the Phase 5 boards.