Hi troyohchatter,
Welcome to Lens 101. I spotted your post and decided to check into it myself. I haven't done extensive research, but let me tell you what I've found so far.
According to AirOptix.com: "Air Optix® Aqua
contact lenses were introduced in 2008 as an upgrade to O2Optix® contact lenses.
With the Aqua Moisture System, Air Optix® Aqua lenses provide moisture for comfort on contact, all day, every day. They’re so comfortable that from the moment you put them in you may hardly notice them."
It doesn't sound like they're trying to play up Air Optix Aqua as being something totally different from O2 Optix. It's an upgrade. Air Optix.com says that the Aqua Moisture System--which makes the Air Optix Aqua an improvement over O2 Optix--"lubricates, maintains and sustains" the lenses better. Here's a link for you to check out.
http://www.airoptix.com/ecp/aqua/AQUA_Moisture.shtml
What you're saying sounds like "'Confirmed: Cheeseburger=Hamburger.' Don't buy cheeseburgers. I looked at the ingredients and they have the same ground beef patty, the same bread-like round bun, and the same ketchup, mustard, onion and pickle as a hamburger, yet they cost 10% more. What a ripoff!"
Do you see what I'm saying? No one's trying to tell you that a cheeseburger is a hundred times better than a hamburger, but it is different and if you like the difference that slice of cheese-like substance makes, you're willing to pay the difference. If you don't, have a hamburger and keep the change.
If you try Air Optix and you don't think they're all that much different than O2 Optix, then by all means, stick to the O2 Optix.
Do we all feel better now?