IMHO, so-called high end stuff is just marketing blah - something that technically can be achieved and makes potentially sense for demanding sport shot conditions (where you actually might need a high friction or a quick response to the dry). But I am sure that a "good bowler" can get along with lower end equipment, and that for 95% of house league bowlers a high end ball is not the right answer to the situation at hand. From my experience, people try to cover up release flaws with aggressive balls, or they are unable to read a ball reaction (à la "does not hook - need stronger ball = high end piece"), or both at the same time.
"Stronger and snaps harder than ever before" or "biggest hook since the invention of sliced bread" just sells well, and it is so easy and comfortable to self-delude yourself that a ball overcomes your struggles, instead of putting effort in training and intelligence. We all get tempted and fall for the "hook in the box" trap. But I think that the less you "know" about bowling, the easier it is to succumb to this.
Sure, a strong high friction ball can come handy if the lane calls for it. But this can also easily be solved with the proper ball choice, e. g. a Particle Ogre or (from former times) a Swamp Monster - all mid-range pieces at best, and potentially only "necessary" once or twice a year...
On the other hand, I subscribe to the "on THS you only need one ball" theory - even though finding the right match can be a challenge. But from my experience I must say that by tendency "less is more" - I find myself more and more reverting to my old Pure Hammer for most league situations.
