[Ronnn]

lowering spring does provide some sort of performance improvement, it's not fair to compare a full setup...if lowering spring is waste of money, then why those company still manufacture lowering spring.
as lowering spring will lower your centre gravity, your car will have less body roll...
if you don't track your car, or only use it for DD and mainly want to lower the wheel gap, then you can go for the spring first and if the shocks blow out, replace them

even you get spring/shock combo, that doesn't mean the handling will be totally diff (because you only use it for DD), you won't even feel the real difference

and yes, some people did mention the lasting of the shocks depends on your driving style
if you don't track your car, your shock should last much longer

I had Eibach sportline with stock shocks with my previous EK3 Civic for 2 years, and nothing wrong with it
And then I changed to Tokico with H&R race spring, not a good choice, shock blown in a year

I also had experience with RSR lowering spring with stock shocks with my EK4
But I had Tein coilover for my current Civic, since i want to have height adjustability.....