What can I do to prevent being screwed AGAIN.

Not kidding, but I know, not helpful.

The items you've touched upon above have been written to death online, so it wouldn't be particularly more informative than any other zillion blogs. Plus, they're too general and without client details, how are you going to tell them "what a good kitchen should cost"? and what constitutes "good"? You'll note the arguments around "cheap" and in- or less expensive.

How about some less addressed topics that are often seen here: Your decision making rights and your GC.
How to write a detailed contract & the details that should be included.
How to know what's missing in your contract before you sign.
How to see or find the real deal behind the sales pitch?
How to make it clear YOU have final say in all design details, not the GC or builder
Permits, licenses & insurance: Do you need them and why?
When things go wrong: Do "they" have to fix it?
What to do when your GC or people stop coming and returning your phone calls.
How to legally kick your GC off the job? (Contract clauses & pitfalls to notice.)

Details often forgotten in the design.
Measuring & function:
Blind corners, super or a lazy Susan?
Pull-outs vs. drawers.
Drawers vs. reach-in bases.
Counter space vs. tambours.
Upper cabinets vs. open shelving.
Traffic flow.
Custom cabinetry costs vs. stock.
(Here's a good one:) All the possible finishes for Butcher Block & their pros and cons. (Nice to have this in one place.)
Moving doors and windows: is it worth the expense?

Ok. I'll stop. I'm just thinking of all I read here. There are SO much more. But you may just have to read a bit your own bad self. :)

I've often wished for remedial reading on these topics:

Varieties of soapstone and their characteristics
The work triangle v. zones
Rule of thumb measurements, i.e., clearance around islands, behind bar stools, landing surface for fridge items, etc.
How many light fixtures and where to place them
What elements should match, and which don't have to
What is "timeless?" Is anything?
Pros and cons of different sink types (stainless, soapstone, copper, porcelin, etc.)
Ceiling fans: are they fashionably "green," or terribly tacky?
Range hoods
Myth v. Truth (infinite possibilities here)

That's all I can think of now. More will proably come to me.

CEFreeman,
I love your list. I'm in the process of hiring a contractor and I'd love to have answers to the first group.

Also how do you judge quality standards prior to hiring them other than being invited to some of their client's houses?

I think CEFreeman posted a great list. They aren't the glamorous fun choices that we like to spend time on, but thinking about them will make your life much easier.

I'd like to see something on "Does this [style, surface, finish, color] go with that [style, surface, finish, color]?" We get this all the time on the boards, especially with backsplashes. Many people have a very hard time visualizing how different elements work together. I think that a lot of people would benefit from using more visualization tools, both for layout and for design elements.

We've been running a series of threads on the board called "Design Around This" that has people putting together design boards along different themes. The link below has info about the threads, but also includes some info on visualization tools and how to create a design board. And it has links to the various threads and themes we've done.

Here is a link that might be useful: About the Design Around This Threads

In addition to what cawaps said plus:
Does the design go with the house? How do you know when it does and when it does (will) not....

Yes, the design elements have to work with other design elements in the kitchen. But it also have to work with the entire house.

Good point, Kaismom!

The thing about design going with xxxx, is it remains personal! Even tho someone might ask (a 1000 times to get the answer they want) they will usually go with what speaks to them, "going" or not. Anything goes if YOU like it, right?

Describing styles would be nice. But with pictures!!! Articles are fine, but boring. When we're talking about design, nothing says it like examples. Please respect copyright.

I find myself agreeing that articles that consolidate the pros and cons of things in one place would be very useful. One source.

How high to hang lighting. Pictures. Yourself, when you've had enough. (Only kinda kidding!)

Oh!
I wouldn't trust anyone who "invited" me to see a contractor's work. I'd ask for a list and check 'em out with the BBB, Angie's list, and frankly, here.

Why you can't have an Americanized *insert European country/region here* in a *insert production home style here*. I think people should be made to understand that, with rare exceptions, the home is going to tell you what kind of kitchen is going to be a good investment. I don't think that can be said enough.

A kitchen that is fighting with a house is going to look dated much faster than if that "beloved style" at least is on speaking terms with your home and its style and era.

And also, know the tastes and conventions of your region. Before starting this new renovation, I looked at every single house listed for sale in my ZIP code - regardless of price. I noticed that not even the very nearly $1 mil home had a built in Sub Zero or the like. That's not to say that no house here does, but you're not going to be offending anyone with your choice to have more down to earth choices. If you live in an area with a basic FD or sxs trend, maybe freezer drawers will just be too hard to explain down the road. Because while you should design your home for you and the way you live, it's unrealistic to think the majority of us are going to be our home's final owners.

CEF hit the nail on the head. How to choose a contractor, be sure they are legit, your legal rights(though those vary by state). SOmething like a list of all of the contractor's boards in each state so people can check their contractor's licences, etc would be great.
I know I am guilty of KNOWING I SHOULD contact people and go see people's work in real life, but I feel it is an inconvenience to the homeowner, etc. A reminder that time spent calling references and seeing work is time well spent if it leads to you saving yourself from bad work and/or bad people.

Also, a list of DIY projects for kitchens and a "rating" of skill level involved in each step, what challenges are, etc. Like I stripped and restained my old oak cabinets-discuss how much new or refaced cabinets would be then discuss cost of DIY. State that chemicals are used, etc what time is involved, etc. Even stuff like "Do your own demo" can save people thousands and allow them to sink money into the NEW kicthen, not spend it on the destruction of the old.

I'm thinking that the OP might be more interested in 1000 ways SPAM can be used in a kitchen forum.

Thank you guys SO MUCH! This is a great help. I too feel that much of what's out there is very repetitive so we'll definitely try to keep it fresh.

I am a kitchen designer and a contractor, in other words we design and remodel. For the many questions I see here with regard to hiring a contractor, here is an excellent resource and one I share with my potential clients.

http://www.nari.org/pdf/NARI_How_To_Select_A_Remodeling_Pro.pdf

The other piece of advise I would use is "hire a patient communicator who is detail oriented" someone who uses lots of words and is very patient about explaining things. From my end, issues usually only turn into problems when clear expectations are not set.

Read the many posts titles here and you'll see some common and repetitive questions:

What are overmount, flushmount and undermount installs for sinks?

Who installs the countertop? Who installs the sink?

What gets installed first, the floor or the cabinets?

What do inset, full overlay, and partial overlay mean in cabinetry, with pictures?

What is an air gap, and do I have to have one where I live?

How to plan electricity (switches & outlets) most effectively for the new kitchen?

How do you end a tile backsplash attractively when it stops at the upper cabinet/countertop line?

Why do cabinet companies have such a steep upcharge for certain styles, like inset, but custom woodworkers don't?

What are my options for placing outlets if I don't want to interrupt my backsplash tile pattern?

What is an air switch?