Care to discuss this point?
Because there are MANY variations from brand to brand on structural integrity, warranty work, QUALITY of the chrome dipping process...
Run your hand down the smooth surface of a wheel manufactured by an MHT company, and then one that deals almost strictly off the internet, and you can literally feel the difference.
Good luck getting any warranty on pitting chrome or chips, as well.
Big brands also deal in multi-pc wheels, which can be rebuilt several times over with many different configurations. I would much rather have a nice set of 20's than a set from U2... but then again, you can't get a well built 20x8.5 for what you paid for the U2 26" wheels... so, I guess money is the name of the game.
Not to mention, the value on those U2 wheels ONLY decreases. Nobody gets anywhere NEAR what they have IN the wheels back.
A 'Nice' set of wheels retains value, or even increases over time. Look at BBS RS' or LM's. Or even Billet wheels.