Advice on....Snake Oil


So, I get it. You purchase something and other claim it's snake oil. Or they purchase snake oil and you lay claim to the adage. 

My one question,

What is the general consensus a reputable brand would spend considerable time, resources and finances to create a product that is or what some would call "snake oil". 

My belief is that a lot of brands (PS Audio, Isoacoustics, Audioquest) would probably better spend their time developing and creating an impact rather than making a questionable product. Any dialogue to be had or am I off base?
128x128j-wall
If lawsuits against snake oil products were effective you couldn't buy homeopathy psuedo medicine at the store. Lawsuits against the type of deceptive practices employed by by some of these marketers isn't worth the time or effort. It is very hard to prove and claiming since noone has sued them they must therefore work is fallacy. 
Of all the cable websites I've read I can't recall ever seeing them claim that their cables will definitely make your systems sound improved. I only read that stuff here and in reviews. They claim some wild stuff and offer nonsense reasons but as long as they stay away from making definitive statements of guaranteed success then they have CTA. 
I think few engineers/markets set out to oil snakes.  They start off with good intentions and produce products that deliver on those intentions.  None of the three brands mentioned would be even close to the top of the list of brands I would consider snake oil peddlers.  

There are some products out there that just make you shake your head.  I can't imagine what causes people to buy some of the weird "tweaks" out there that they swear delivers better sound but are mind boggling. 

This is not a thread about the most absurd tweak, but there are some truly absurd things in the market.   
Snakeoil is like feet under amps
I run a small LP mastering operation, using a Scully lathe. It uses a table which is mounted on adjustable pointed feet; in turn a damping platform sits on top of that which is where the lathe hardware is mounted. This was built in the early 1950s; apparently the LP mastering industry does not think pointed feet and damping platforms are snake oil.
Is there a difference between cutting LPs and consumer amplifiers as far as vibration and leveling? I think you're comparing apples to sardines.