I don't know anything about them, but I say if it doesn't affect your bottom line and you think it's what you're looking for, do it!
I will say, don't buy your pipe from a fireplace shop- it will be like twice as much as the big box stores and they're already really expensive. Years ago I got quoted $60 for a 3' piece of black at a fireplace shop- I already had the stove, just needed the pipe to pipe it in. Their total estimate for pipe (no installation) was like $750. I went to the big box hardware store and bought all that pipe for like $75.
As for the pad, just get a chunk of cement board and put some pretty tile on it or something, you'll be in it for $50 vs. the $100s they charge for those things. Or just buy it, whatever works for you.
"Knowledge is power. Arm yourself."