I do agree that we can't have it all (cheap plus pro-level components). And I bought an Acurite because the Davis prices are too high, and they've been resting on their laurels for far too long with the VP2. That, and the fact that I can (with hacks) get the raw data with multiple Tower sensors is what keeps me loyal.
That said, would I give Acurite more money for a 5N1 that sent data more frequently, FARS with a solar-charged battery? Yup. I'd also like better options for the consoles. A color overlay on top of a standard LCD display is not acceptable in my opinion, and the limited viewing angle is rather poor. I don't think they make the newer black-background LCDs for the 5N1.
A quick search of decoding 433/915mhz signals shows how much desire there is for enthusiasts like us to have easy access to sensor data. Not just with Acurite, but Davis, Oregon, and lots of other devices.
In the end, who is Acurite marketing to? In regard to devices, there's the Sparkfun/Adafruit crowd like me who loves delving into the nitty gritty of things. But I also have a Withings scale that easily pairs with my iPhone and utilizes HealthKit - and costs way more than a standard analog scale. I'm sure there's a happy medium in their somewhere.