Here's the thing. I just searched for both of the jackets you mentioned, and I would take either of them over anything posted. I go for quality and functionability(?) above style, but these two jackets have both.
I think the reason why people (including me) were posting things that might not be that great quality or w/e, is because not eveyone is exposed to numerous brands. I don't know what you do that allows you to have sooooo much info about everything, but a lot of kids might not have ski shops near them or something, so their only available resource is this site. When they see what the pros or other kids are wearing, they just like that because they don't know what else is out there.
As for me, I wish I could get high quality equipment and apparel, but I'm stuck with paying no more than like $50 for some unknown Columbia jacket with like 3,500 waterproofing at Sports Authority beacuse it's the closest store that has ski equipment. I don't know if this is true for other kids, but I know that's why I may be equipmentally ignorant.