Every gear critic will say demo, demo, demo. But every new board or kite I've ever upgraded to has taken time to get used to and improved over time.
Most of the gear these days is awesome.
Is there any real benefit of demoing gear? Is it really fair to judge a board or kites characteristics after the first use?
I think you can tell if you really dislike it but not overly if you like it...So demo still worth while...
BJW - are you for real, or are you just an average rider who doesnt know the difference...
If you ride hard - the whole game changes and is instantly noticeable - do you think when designing kites, they take awhile to get "used to it".
A couple of runs out n back - and thats it ! It gets binned instantly if it doesnt work 
Theres enough shop bull sales yarns to fill another Ocean - unfortunately noobs and average riders get rolled from believing it.
A great example is when a kite company enthusiastically says "its a radically redesigned kite" - translates to "oh we messed up there". Better try another design.
So demo demo demo 
unless you have more money than skill...
Most kite companies are putting out a good product and chances are you will like at least one kite/board from each company and it will suit your needs, but i agree with fingerbone, you demo to find out what you dont like and occasionally youll ride something that just feels so right that you have to have it.
I have been caught out by demoing a one board and buying a competitors board that was said to do the same thing, it didnt for me so i was left with something i didnt like using until i sold it and brought the board i originally demoed and love it, an expensive exercise, therefore demo demo demo!
