Bruce,
The Bonelli doesn't have ED glass. Bones might see things differently but I didn't find CA troublesome. It was really only noticable when my eye wasn't quite aligned, and then easily corrected. Real colour neutrality is tricky to pin down, but more at the red end meant for me the colour was better balanced than the FL and HT for example.
Bones,
Raising the bar and lowering price is a tough one. There are other high end Kamakuras around from Maven, Styrka, GPO and the like which I haven't seen but sound very promising. (I have had a quick look at a factory sample of a AK prismed 9x45 which really impressed, but I don't know how it might have differed from the Maven.) I've always rather liked the Razor HD 10x50, but I've not seen a sample since production moved to China. The Meopta Meostar HD 10x42 is very good as well, but it was the 12x50 HD that really wowed me. With the Cabelas buyout and new stuff in the wings, there may be some good deals in the next 12 months. Unfortunately none of those are likely to better the price you paid for the Kite, and even on the used market it going to be some time before a Noctivid might fall into that range.
It doesn't mean there aren't gems to be found amongst lesser models but it usually means some luck and some compromises. Only you can decide your priorities. That sample of the Fujinon version of the Sightron BSII I was sent for review was right up there on the "OMG" factor, but it wouldn't challenge the top dogs for transmission, CA or engineering. Would the next one I find be as good? One Terra ED 10x42 sample out of perhaps a dozen I've tried easily outgunned the Conquest HDs on the OMG scale but the others were very ordinary. Lower on the price scale seems to be a bit of a lottery, but the only answer I know is, try before you buy.
Good luck,
David