You're right - people do tend to lump all "tuning boxes" together and think they're all just resistors....a "good quality" programmable tuning box is an option.
(OK, so some one say it "there isn't such thing as a good quality tuning box")
But there are different types available, some programmable. I've read many an article in Diesel Car etc where they've setup & tested the programmable types with very good results.