Speaking in absolutes without strict justification will only add confusion to what is already a complicated topic.  

I can't justification the $16K+ investment to 'see if this business is for me'.

I'm trying to think of a justification for it, but otherwise I agree with @Chris Seveney, save the cash and keep the lower price. 

The more value you bring, the more justification you have to either have a split at all or to demand more of a split.  

There was no solid justification but challenges are what I wake up excited about. 

There is good justification whether yes or no.

That is, commercial assets is usually more of a justification to incur the costs of maintaining a LLC.As you investigate this further, you'll see that the LLC isn't just the cost of filing for one. 

* If the appraiser’s justifications for the lower-than-expected value(s) are not satisfactory, it may be time to seek a second opinion

A tenant’s guest shoots and kills someone at the rental property.Another tenant threatens to behead the landlord.And a third renter runs a prostitution ring out of the unit.In each case, the landlord pursues an eviction, and each time, the judge says no.These are just some of the eviction-worthy situations that have gone nowhere since April 6, when the California Judicial Council suspended virtually all unlawful-detainer proceedings in the state.In the cases above, the landlords pointed to the Judicial Council’s exception for threats to health and safety.The plaintiffs were still denied.The justification?

It seems that just looking for justifications, to lay outward blame, that you were correct in your expectations of "perfection" and thus don't have to hold self accountable that maybe your expectations are not aligned with reality.