HT1338 Can I update my Mini 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo /4 GB 667 MHz DDR2?

Question

My Mini -- 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo /4 GB 667 MHz DDR2 —is "mid 2007". 
What happens if I try to install Mtn Lion?
Because there is a lot of buggy stuff about 10.7.x.  For instance,
Wifi does not maintain a steady connection when using a non-airport wireless router (maddening when it goes "looking for Networks" when there is a steady signal coming from the modem.  This is consistently a buzz-kill when streaming virtually any video, and consistently happens w/ netfix.
No, it's not the wifi router.  Non-Apple equip has rock steady wifi signal and smooth, HD streaming.
Hardwired w/ Cat5, streaming video is no problem--and yes, I have trashed and reloaded Airport Utility, which definitely appears to be the culprit.
Itunes does all kinds of wonky things w/ smart playlists, etc/. etc. 
Bluetooth has a mind of it's own--forgetting it's already paired to an Apple keyboard and trackpad when I power up another Mac within 20 feet.
DVD Player is so eratic I have given up and gone to VLC altogether--not quite as elegant an interface, but at least it's consistent AND alows me to jump over the junk promos studios insist I can't skip when played on DVD Player
In short —All the usual loose ends the software update never gets around to addressing, but that typically an upgrade will fix.
Theoretically, Mtn. Lion will only work on 2009 and later Mini's, but aside from buggy OS, (and, uh, eratic breaks in wifi signal) this mini works fine as a media center.
So what happens if I try to upgrade?
Is there perhaps a firmware update or a work around?
Yes, I am aware the unit is 5 years old, but I am strongly opposed to being strong-armed into buying new equip because of Apple's ever increasing tendency to eliminate legacy compatibillity.  Sure it's good for Apple, but terrible for both the environment and people like me on a fixed income in this economy.  Why toss a perfectly functional unit just to make the richest corporation in the world (or 2nd, whatever) richer?
Thanks

Answer 1

Many thanks for your prompt reponse.  I expected as much, but thought the question worth asking. 
Must admit it escapes why Mtn Lion should not be more broadly accessible, except for the blatant greed factor, which is growing increasingly tiresome. 
I bought my 1st PowerBook in the late 80's for close to $3,000 and was a loyal evangelist for decades—both purchasing and recommending many, many Macs, until I started to buy a new MacBook Pro last year and encountered all that thunderbolt/HDMI baloney.  Then I started taking a harder look at whether Apple was genuinely attemtping to meet loyal user's needs, or simply exploiting the strength of the brand by non-legacy compatibility to drive increased sales.
Looking around a tad after I posted, the erratic wifi problem appears to be endemic--not just minis and not just 10.7.
I've gone through all the fixes, but Lion stubbornly persists in giving the flakest wif around--which is my main reason for wanting to try Mtn. Lion.  The rest of the new, uh, "features" definitely strike me as onanistic tweaking added gimmicks in the OS for tweaker's sake--no significant gain in usability.
Remember when stability was the Apple OS's chief virtue?  Ah, those were the days!
Now I am waiting for the Kool-Aid quaffers to start wising up before I can begin shorting the grossly over-valued stock.  The iPhone is losing ground fast.  Arrogant development and marketing strategies the likes of which driving Apple these days never last forever.  Remember as well when Microsoft caused fear and trembling with it's heedless hegemony?  Or how about IBM?  Or AOL?  Technology has a way of dealing with hubris.
Best wishes for all, &c.