| The way I think about these is that, yeah, it's unfortunate that these are not the best products on the market as a product category, and they cost more than they really should. Of course, another way to think about it is that the most expensive preventative care is better than the cheapest corrective care. I don't really consider these an "ecosystem" like tech. An ecosystem implies there's a big cost in both time and money to switching to something else. In my case, I'm either going to buy Sonicare or Oral-B because those are the options with bulk refills Costco. There are brands out there that are cheaper, but not by much. If they break, I buy another one. Such is life. Of course, you can clean your teeth just as well with a cheap toothbrush and a much less expensive budget if you are diligent and thorough with your brushing. Flossing is also more important, anyway. But I'm not messing around with my teeth: if my dentist recommends an electric toothbrush, I'm buying one. This subject also reminds me of the razor blade market. A whole lot of "disruption" has taken place over the years with online shaver brands supposedly offering "the same" product as incumbents like Gillette. But if you shave your head bald you'll know that a Harry's razor is really inferior compared to a Gillette razor. Sometimes the overpriced brand names are simply the best options on the market, even if they have been cost-cut or are otherwise "not what they used to be," and I feel similarly about Sonicare. I could buy some off-brand electric toothbrush and maybe it's 70-90% as good, but that juice isn't worth the squeeze. |