I kinda understand why many would spend money on it. For people who can barely save a file on pc,flashing a custom firmware on a phone will not be easy. You have to think that not everyone is a uber hax0r, or technically savvy enough to flash a firmware.

My phone is using an unlocked android and unlocked region. Of my whole family, I am the only one capable of doing it. I have relatives so technologically averse that they think an error window asking you to close an unresponsive program is the hardest thing in the world.