Yeah, it does. That's kind of what "keeping pace with technology" means. I could see the price tag of the ProVari if they were keeping pace with technology instead of just sitting back and selling collector edition color schemes, but new colors is just completely silly when you look around at what has come out over the last year and a half.
Its a simple fact of mechanics that the more moving parts something has and the more complicated the design, the more apt it is to fail.
I've had the exact same Vamo v5 for 9 months now which I bought two weeks after getting a Vamo v2. Not even a hitch in it's performance. I did have an issue with a Vivi Nova tank leaking all over it when I first got it. I left it on with the tank on it, so the juice got in it's inerds. It powered down spontaneously for a few days, which caused me to order another Vamo v5(For $35) but it started working before the other one arrived. I already had a Vamo v2 I got for $30 as a spare as well. So, right now I have two Vamo v5s and a Vamo v2. Total price on those is $100. All of which still work. I can still get two more Vamo v5 to fill the slots in my Legion of Vamos and still not have hit the $180 price tag of a ProVari.
But, instead of those two additional Vamo v5s, I got an R80 mechanical pipe mod for $25. I got a copper nemesis clone for $25. I also got a 14500 based Novice clone for $20. So, I have three vamos and three mechanical mods for less than the cost of that ProVari. I'm really not too worried about being left high and dry at this point.
Also, that scare tactic about having to go back to traditional cigarettes? Carton of cigarettes is $70, the cost of two Vamo v5s. If your ProVari craps out, what are you going to do?
Meanwhile, I have a sub ohm build. It's nice. I really like it. Same price tag mod-wise.
And most people know a Posilock Pulley Puller beats the old school stuff, innovation!