I'm in the camp that it is all STUPIDITY. If the ball companies were not putting out the "latest and greatest" stuff every 6 months, how would they stay in business? If the balls did not crack, or wear out, or the USBC change rules, why would you keep buying new?
I can point to several casual bowlers in my area throwing old stuff like Storm Fire Power, Razor Wire, and one guy uses a RotoGrip Bandit .... they all shoot 700's with them too on the china ....
Makes me wonder why I keep spending my money. Buy 3, find 1 good one, sell 2, have the USBC tell you that they are all illegal (because some 2 hander decided to drill triangle layouts, we ALL pay), start over.