Re: Paint it how you want.
If every bike maker said, "why bother making one", I guess there would be only one brand of 600cc bike, one brand of 750cc, one brand of 1000cc, etc. The bike market is full of many different types of riders and BUYERS. I assume YOU haven't ridden the Daytona, only looked at the spec sheets and reviews, so any opinon is very subjective. Unless you're going racing, who cares if it's a couple of HP down, a couple of pounds up? Speaking of HP, I must have missed to dyno comparing the "big" four and the Daytona. I guess until that comes around, we can only guess.
To repeat to old adage, "If you don't like the bike, don't buy it. If you think you can build a better one, build it." That's how Triumph started!
Anyway, it's a STREET bike, and a damn fine one it sounds like. I currently own 2 Triumphs, Tiger and Speed Four. Both are excellent street bikes. Don't give a damn about having more or less HP or weight than anyone else. At least Triumph is trying to add some variety to the market!
The one point about Johnny Squidly buying from the spec sheet is sad, but true. But the infant mortality rate there is fairly high, and as they mature, they begin to look at Triumph, Ducati, Aprilia, as well as the "big" four. Why? I don't really know, maybe for something unique, different? Seems like spec sheets become less important, and riding skill becomes more important as most riders mature. A friend of mine has a shop that sells Triumph and Ducati, and I'm there part time, and I do see it happen. Man am I rambling! Anyway, the challange was "you aren't buying one". Well, don't bet against it!