Well, yes, to some extent, and I do think it has some features which aren't much use, or if they are are probably better implemented in other ways, like unoccupied house purging, moving warm air between rooms, schedules of ventilation rates.
But I think the photocell trigger is a bloody brilliant idea, and saving the cost of making good after running a 3-core cable to a fan to get light-switch control and overrun could easily pay for the premium.
And look how much people pay to be able to program their central heating from the beach in Marbella, or to talk to their fridge.