Yes and yes but it is still highly individual. Chu has less bass and mud which can be seen as an upgrade or downgrade but most importantly it has a smoother and better treble timbre in my my ears (CRA has a moderate 10k spike, nothing crazy)

But keep in mind that a lot of people don't complain about these treble spikes at all so they might not be getting them like I do or they might be getting them in different places at different magnitudes, or they may be getting them and just complain about treble timbre instead.

For example some have said the Chu has a slight metallic timbre. I can see what they mean I guess (I notice a slight 12k spike though nothing dealbreaking) but it still has a smoother and more natural treble timbre than any other budget IEM I've tried.

And yeah, a lot of people have complained about the Chu breaking. I have had no problem but I am also very careful to keep my ears clean so nothing can clog the filters. What I would recommend is just get the Chu anyway unless wasting $20 would really put you out in your financial situation or if you have a moral problem supporting a company with questionable QC.