On the pricing of the Legend, NM accountants likely realized they made a ton of money keeping the price of the simplex low. They sold a ton of them. Had the price been significantly higher, their actual profits would likely be less. Those happy with the Simplex may also have a tendency to buy the Legend.
On companies bashing each other, Ford, Chevy and Dodge have been doing it for years. A segment of the population loves to hate and feel superior. Companies just give them a target, (another company). Until VLF detectors can tell the difference between lead, aluminum, and gold, I think there will be very few grand improvements.