I've had a long day, but what you're saying doesn't seem very clear.
You were looking at the SRAM Red Cassette? The recent issue of Bicycle magazine, or whatever, talks a bit about this. They say it's all steel, vs. the competitors titanium/steel cassettes. They suggest that it may last longer.
The shine, if properly cared for will probably look good for quite some time, only the teeth would show wear.