Dave, Yes the connection you speak of is considered 1 to 1. It is equall. Now if you are useing the HD setup with the rod that goes through the rudder with the conical standoffs and lock nuts then you must bend the rod equally on both sides towards the servo or front of plane about 10 degrees on either side. If left straight when useing cables you will find that while the pulling cable stays taught as it pulls to turn the rudder, the opposeing cable develops some slop. When the rod is bent for some reason both cables remain taught. If useing control horns then I do not know how it would be compensated. As with any connection you want it to be slop free. The cables should be tight enough to be slop free yet not to a point where it is putting excess strain on the rudder hinges, rudder or servo. When connected, at half span, by applying pressure with your finger, like on a guitar string, it should flex about a half inch in both directions. Also the cable cross over each other in the shape of an X in this setup. Here is a pic of how the rod should be bent.

On your other question I don't think the A8 costs as much as the new VW flagship, the Phaeton has recently rolled into the states at $88,000.00 Joe