Extra couple hundred bucks for debadging on almost every car they sell.

In real world terms, it’s not really $15k more.
A comparable GTI (5 door performance), is between $3 and $5k more sticker price (depending on if you equip the tech package to the R).
You get a LOT more for the money: AWD, an extra 70hp, full LED headlights (MY18), and the new digital cockpit (MY18).
Also the R is…

It matters a fair amount.

Not so.

I like to finish it with "they’re usually full of shit..."