"Shabda: ... with a budget of 10000 ... to make a kick ass product ... spend 5000 for making a so-so product and spend 5000 on marketing[?] What would you recommend?

Bob Massa: Spend $1,000 building a kick-ass product and $9,000 on marketing. Marketing NEVER takes care of itself."

That seems a little extreme.

He is a marketing Guru. Of course that would be his opinion. :)