well i say just smooth over the grill and don't bad boy it.
i have seen a couple of facelifts with the grills smoothed and a couple with bad boying and IMO the only badboying that was done right was on Nis's car.
still very different, no one has done it before and it will turn heads even if its for the wrong reasons.
i think if you could smooth the whole of the front bumper so that there was no opening then it might suit it a bit better, but to me it seems like there is something missing...
maybe you could do something really different and smooth over the grills but them cut holes in them again and fit driving lamps... could be good
as for cost i'd say 1k to have it done properly and sprayed...
BTW that is some top photochopping and the side of the car looks mint without handles, mirrors, indicators etc... its just the front...
do you think you could do another photochop but this time remove the numberplate? i think it will look the dogs then
i'm such a fan of smooth micras