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There are at least 3 different hitch manufacturers (Curt, Valley, Draw-Tite) who sell branded T-type plug-in trailer wiring adapters - no vampire taps or splicing required. All cost very small fraction of the Honda harness. All are easier to install than Honda's harness. There are details in various threads about installing these harnesses.
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For persons who are very concerned about blowing fuses in their cars, you can get an inline fused trailer adapter that plugs between the trailer and the vehicle. It's intended for absent-mined boat trailer towers who forget to unplug the trailers' wiring before they back the trailer into the water.

Honda's design buries a fuse behind the cargo area side panel. To access it, "simply" remove the cargo area side panel.

 

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People who've installed the Honda harness are correct, it's not hard to install. Since they spent a lot of extra money because of their decision, they have a natural desire to defend their choice.

I believe that unless they used the Honda Element harness to replace an aftermarket harness designed for their Honda Element, they aren't speaking from direct personal knowledge of the aftermarket product, so their opinions of the aftermarket products from them are hearsay. There are a LOT of horror stories going back a few years from people who were mechanically inept installing primitive wiring harnesses. The Element having wiring and connectors already in place eliminates most of the mis-installation problems of the past. (retracted)

If you read thread by people who have actually installed a third party harness in the EOC forums, you'll find few if any horror stories.

It's your vehicle, and your money but you should look at the Valley and Curt harnesses. The installation steps are similar to Honda harness. It's not necessary to completely remove the cargo area bulkhead and there are fewer inline connectors. No splicing, no vampire taps, no fuse buried inside the bulkhead requiring removal of the panel to change it. At least one EOC member was able to install one without removing the bumper cover. Electrical connection time for these is under a half hour if you have any experience with tools. (retracted)

The one piece that I'd add to the aftermarket harnesses is a bracket for the external 4-flat connector, available for $4-5. Routing of the harness through the body and permanent mounting of the connector is more time consuming, but worth it. I'd also suggest a connector dust cover ($2-3) for whichever harness you install, particularly because you say you'll rarely use it.

 

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I surrender. :-( I apologise. I should have known that when I was the only dissenting voice that there was a reason. I'm sorry.

I made a mistake thinking that because I'd installed harnesses in 2004, 2007 and 2008 Elements, had wiring and connector details and 2006 manufacturers catalogs listing the same part numbers for 2005 and 2006 models that there'd be no problem with a 2005. :-x The manufacturers no longer list those parts, although they are still shown in distributors listings.

I DO object to the characterization of aftermarket equipment for the Element as "cheapy aftermarket junk". Primary electrical vehicle wiring isn't rocket science or exotic technology. Honda is famous for CYA conservative over-engineering; adequate engineering is being cost-effective, not "cheapy". If your PC were designed the way that Honda designs electrical accessories, it would have cost a lot more, and the fact that it would last 15 years wouldn't mean much. (I'm also an electronics systems engineer, with more than 30 years experience, including designing everything from industrial control system to broadcast studios and networks. )

I saw the 2005 Honda harness listed online for under $150. If a dealer install costs over $300 are they sticking it to you, or do they think the install is harder than it is?