I really don't see it as taking a step back, I look at it as upgrading a new chevy 1/2 ton car to a truck. Real trucks don't run electric fans when they are required to work, the reason? These fans can't move the air like a clutch fan. Even the service manager where I take my truck said switching back to a stock fan would improve cooling as the clutch fan will still pull air when the PCM may command the e fans off. Yes I am running a diablo programer on the 87 tune. It seems to work well enough and I did lower my temps so we'll see.
As for a price, I'd have to believe shipping is going to be a huge cost. Do you think 125 shipped is fair (only if the shroud can be broken into two pieces which should lower shipping cost, you can also ship to a business as this is cheaper).
I'll probably sell my e fans if I see an better cooling with the clutch fan.