The B16B is a cracking engine for a 1600, but at the end of the day it is still a 1600. The only way to really make gains with it is to do what the bigger engines can't do so well, rev. This is expensive, and without changing the gearing to suit, you end up with a really peaky, difficult to drive car. Less money sees you with a bigger engine with more power and torque making it far faster in every day driving.
As a pure track or race car though where you rarely drop out of VTEC, the B16B can be made to hold it's own against the B18.