I can totally understand what you are saying..
Just out of my experience I have seen CVTs on Nissan cars looong before CVTs were table talk in Pakistan.
As a technology.. the gearbox is smoother than auto transmission and in terms of longevity lasts upto 500/600k kms.
Perhaps Honda CVT might be facing issues as faced by your cousin.. but CVT in general is here to stay and going stronger..
In the end, manual gari chalane ka jo maza hey..... now thats a complete different topic.