So, just beat this one tonight. The final Wily battle was just as friggen hard as it always was. But at least I didn't let my frustration consume every fiber of my being.
I got a secret password after the credits. For those who don't know it, it's [spoilerS]: C4:Red C5:Red D3: Red D6: Blue E4: Blue E5: Blue [/spoilerS] It gives you everything, 4 energy tanks, 4 weapon tanks, 1 special tank, and 1 life.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this downgrade. A lot.