OK, so it is worth $200 to pick up an extra horsepower or two with the V2 over the ebay intake?

Sorry to tell you, but intakes don't do shit. They just make it louder than stock and the minimal horsepower gains obtained are merely psychosomatic.

Can you tell me why an AEM V2 or CAI is better than an ebay intake? If you change the filter to a K&N, what is the difference besides price and CARB legality?