Revert a Feature Component programmatically
Here are a few thoughts though on resetting your features programmatically or as add-on install scripts.

You could use Drush to reset the Feature: 

drush features-revert [feature name]

Another thought would be to use features_revert() during the install process:

features_revert(array('module' =&gt; array('component')));

The Strongarm module could be useful as well to force your Feature to retain its default state I think.

I have to agree with @Letharion in his comment on your OP.  I would want to know that other important things aren't being mistakenly modified during the install process.