All the kits i've seen on ebay come with it

 

These are likely to be "home made" test pipes where the maker has added the simulator as a bonus or second hand ones where the owner had to get his own simulator and sells it as a combo. Brand name test pipes like the T1R and spoon don't come with such a device.

 

Well that sucks...The Ebay test pipe is a name brand dyno proven product. and comes with the similator, its not used or second hand...and it cost 200.00...It does not look home made at all...All the flanges are lazer cut and the pipes have the small mandrel bends in it

 

What is "brand" name? Can you put up a link? Here is one that is quite well known:
http://www.aj-racing.com/product.php?type=...ust&company=T1R
Scroll down to "Racing Converter" --- "S2000".
It sells for $115.00 US and comes from a "known" tuner shop. It has no simulator, but then, a mechanical one can be made for about 5 bucks.

 

Or, you can get the electronic one for about $45. Still less than the $200 that's quoted from eBay.

 

so besides the sound, the smell, the soot etc:

realistically, will there be any power gains worth the money?

just want a yes or no conclusion.

 

Big difference on my SC'd S. Before the test pipe, I was even with my bro-n-law's 05 GTO (400 hp). And after installation, I pull on him. I can feel throttle response to be much quicker than with the cat.

As for the smell, you will smell the exhaust more, but not that rotten egg / sulfur smell some have talked about. I've ran a test pipe in my Audi TT, and never had that smell. It's probably due to some gas additive at that particular station or what not. When I ran race fuel in my TT, the exhaust had a sweet smell, distinctive of race fuel.

Sound, below vtec almost the same. And cruising on the hiway, it's actually quieter. However, after vtec engagement, a whole different animal. It's like a wild animal unleashed. I'm running a modified stock exhaust (refabricated the Y section to a real Y pipe, and then replace rear mufflers with magnaflows) and stock header.

Soot? Only if you are running very rich. I'm running at 12:1 from 6200 rpm on to redline. The mechanical O2 sim I am using is keeping my car from getting a cel and going overly rich. I've had my test pipe now for over 1200 miles, no cell, and running great! Tail pipes aren't any blacker than with the cat, and absolutely no sulfur/brown stains.

I got the JIC test pipe from Horsepowerfreak.com ($175 shipped to me), and using the drilled antifoulers.

JIC Test Pipe Comes with gaskets and necessary nuts and bolts. This is the best bang for the buck.

 

well SC/FI'ed applications have more exhaust flow so the change in sound shouldn't be too noticable....i guess..

How about NA/stock applications?

 

think about losing weight when removing the cat.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...&category=33630

Well here's the link to the test pipe on ebay.