If they can get them out in stores in front of people, I think it's going to be a hit. If the Cougar was a "failure" as a Beretta (and I put that in quotes b/c everything I have seen about the Cougar is excellent; if it was a failure it was only so in the commercial sense), I suspect it was only due to price.
Coming down to the $350 MSRP range is going to have people comparing the Stoeger to a Ruger or Taurus, rather than a Sig or H&K, and it looks like it will compete VERY well in that price range.