Mike,
My reasoning for going with a CVO versus a regular model was based on one major consideration that had nothing to do with chrome, paint, or any other "visual" factor. I was looking for a bagger, and based on my previous experience with a TC88 in a Dyna I knew the engine would not provide acceptable (to me) performance in a bike weighing an additional 200 lbs., especially after adding a passenger and gear. I personally like to keep the internals of my engines stock, since having major engine modifications done seems to be a crap shoot around here and above all I was looking for reliability. I certainly would not have any local dealer touch it, I don't have any of the highly respected speed shops close by, and I knew that even though I have the mechanical ability to do it myself I wouldn't ever get around to it. It just seemed so much better to buy the bike with the stronger engine already in place, with a full factory warranty as a bonus.
Well, I'll try to make this short and sweet to avoid boring you. As things turned out, I (and many others from what I see on this site) would have been better off just buying the standard bike and taking my chances with the engine mods. I had problems with the "factory assembled" engine on the initial ride home from the dealership, and things went downhill from there. The difference in quality between this bike and the standard model Dyna I traded in was like night to day, in all areas (powertrain, paint, electrical, etc.), with the standard model far outshining the CVO in quality.
If I were able to do it over again, I'd buy the solid black Ultra I was considering at the time and just add the bits and pieces I really want. The first winter I'd either build the engine up myself or more likely crate it up and ship it to one of the reputable builders for an infusion of power and reliability. And when all was said and done I'd probably be much happier with both my bike and with the MoCo. To me, the CVO experience has been a real eye opener with regard to the way the MoCo does business, and I'm not impressed.
Jerry