Back when I had the money to get other people to maintain my cars I decided if I'm paying £45/hr or more just for the labour I'd like to get the most bang for my buck and leave things better than standard.
When I got my RS2 it wandered and banged about due to shot bushes and dampers. It under-steered quite a bit (as they all do). Powerflex bushes and Bilstein B6s fitted at considerable expense it did none of these things (okay it still under-steered a bit, you cannae break the laws of physics, Captain). Yes you can argue the problems were due to wear and tear and standard parts might well have yielded a similar result but we all know that at some level all cars (even £50k Audis) are built to a budget, compromises are made. Manufacturers often favour quietness and comfort over precision while I am willing to sacrifice a little of the first for more of the second.
By contrast when I did the alternator on the P38 a while back I didn't pay £550 for an LR item I paid £140 for a pattern part because it's a loosened serpentine belt and two bolts if it turns out to be rubbish and I can buy three of these for the price of one genuine one (or pay twice as much for the next one) and still have change. On something this simple and non-safety critical I don't think the £550 one will have any significant benefits. I'm not a nitwit with more money than sense, but my philosophy differs (a little) from yours.
I know you are the voice of reason on here for "stock is best" and that my P38 "isn't an F1 car" but if I'm spending my hours and skinning my knuckles doing the work I like the idea of fitting a part which exceeds the quality fitted at the factory.
