You have very valid points, but I don't see eye to eye with you from a sales point of view. I have only been working in retail as a sales person for 2 years and I feel that I have learned a great deal about how people spend their money, and what they are willing to buy. First off every one wants a deal, for some reason when people save money they go nuts. Second not everyone is a major tuner. Lastly people like to have options.
The first stage kit sold by Hahn and star are backed by their names, but their price is almost 2 times what CI is offering, that alone will pull people to buy these kits. What needs to be made clear is that this kit are in fact just the bare bones, the essentials. This may be seen as a down fall but it could be a good marketing ploy. when you buy the Hahn kit you are stuck with what they think your car needs to not go it hell in a hand basket. You get their boost gauge, their flue pump, its all theirs. What if you got to choose your own. I wager that the CI kits would sell 2 times more if they were marketed as a kit that gives you the essentials, and if wanted to can have all of the top end brand name parts added on. I.E. instead of paying extra for the Hahn kit that comes with a 3000gt vr4 bov, this kit does not and thats why its cheaper, why pay for things that you plan to replace. Thats not a good example but it makes the point.