You didn't pay 25 points to get Howelrunners ability you spent 15 points. You spent 10 points to up your PS skill from 1 to 4.Some simple math, to answer that question:
For 5 BSPs + Predator, you've paid 25 points just for Howl's effect and a PS bump. In the process you've lost a PS8 ship, including another EPT and those two additional red dice. Would I take that trade? Hell no.
I will admit that the points payed to get from OS to BS isn't as cost effective as AP to OS. A PS of 4 beats or ties every single generic pilot in the game except for Royal Guard.
PS skill can be a crap shoot since you don't know what PS your opponent will have, but having 6 ships all with PS 4 or 5 is not nothing.
You simply can't say that the 25 points spent bringing the Black Squadron + Predator up from simple Academy Pilots has no value but to only get your re-rolls.
I am not saying that this is the next tournament winning list. Like I said before I don't plan on ever having 4 predator cards that would be required to play this list in a tournament. But I don't think this list would suck. I think it would fly well against swarms and do well where swarms do well.
The difference between 6 ships and 7 isn't as big imo as say the difference between 3 and 4.
That's like saying the 1 point tax you pay for R2-D6 doesn't factor into the cost of putting an EPT on a generic X-Wing, which is patently untrue. Unless a) you can equip Academy Pilots with Predator or b) you were planning on running Black Squadron Pilots anyway, you most certainly are paying 25 points. If you scroll up a bit, you can see that I did not say Howl's ability is all you are getting. You do get a PS bump, but that's purely incidental. What you're aiming for is ship autonomy, which you can do with the named TIEs, for cheaper and with higher PS. The fact that you're paying the exact same price for Mauler Mithel shouldn't be ignored.