For some research communities, they feel asthma is a syndrome, or rather a collection of symptoms. Over a hundred years ago, many felt that "Anemia" was a disease itself. Now we know that it is a symptom caused by other conditions/diseases. Asthma has many faces/symptoms for people and because it presents in so many ways, is the reason some researchers feel it a syndrome rather then a disease. I think that as technology develops there will be a better understanding to the root cause(s) of asthma. I guess you could say that we are in the infantile stage yet in understanding asthma, whereas things like fever and anemia are now well understood.
The Buteyko people say asthma occurs because people with asthma hyperventilate and blow off too much carbon dioxide. The airways respond by constricting and inflamming in order to preserve this important gas. Interestingly the New York Times wrote an impressive article on the Buteyko breathing method this week. The article is here http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/health/03brod.html?_r=1
It isn't totally mysterious, we know that it is an inflammatory response to something. We know very little about the immune system and its reactions/interactions to begin with.
Reasearch is going at massive pace but it takes time and money. Since it is something that probably have many factors that are important in it, it is very hard to research. Plus not all animals get a similar condition and our society doesn't let research on humans :)
Just think about the time 50 years ago they didn't even know/have ability to use inhaled steriods. You were on oral or nothing. So it is improving, just give it time.
i totally agree with every word you say? it is a very under-researched illness.