[redis_mlc]

It's American consumerism fueled by available credit.

What's really fascinating is that what you said applies to McMansions, and ... private aircraft too.

Cessna cancelled their basic $300,000 new 172 because people were only ordering the $400,000 glass panel model. The price is so high they took it off the website for the first time. (And older pilots were expecting it come in at $80,000. lol.)

Cubcrafters makes composite Cubs(!) that are priced starting in the $190,000 range for LSA and $317,000 for Part 23, and again, mainly sell the maxed out versions.

http://cubcrafters.com/compare

[duxup]

It's an interesting phenomenon.

It would seem that the inflation of these prices just don't bother people.