Replies

As I said. the fan boys keep it fueled, and the aspirational nature of their marketing, gives them a customer base willing to pay a exorbitant price and believe they are getting more than they paid for.

Exorbitant price? In whose universe?

Samsung's introductory discounted price for unlocked Galaxy S6: $849 to $1139 on Amazon (usually selling at discounted pricing). Source
Apple's introductory full price for unlocked iPhone 6S: $649 to $849

That kind of shoots down your claim of Apple's exorbitant pricing, doesn't it? And of course, you can get phones on contract for zero downpayment. . . including iPhones. That's irrelevant. Those are subsidized by the carriers.

Yes, you can buy cheaper smartphones, but they are usually three to five year old models with lesser capability that do not integrate with other devices as well as Apple's do.

As for computers, pricing Dell or HP laptops or desk top all in ones with similar specs will get you pricing that is competitive and the Apple offering is sometimes up to $100 less expensive. . . but the Apple always comes with a suite of quite functional included software that the PCs do not. I've done many price comparisons and that is what you find. Yes, you can buy a much less expensive PC, but it is not a comparable PC to a Mac.

Yes, you are delusional if you think that Apple grows on "fanboys keeping it fueled" to the point of worldwide growth to the world's largest and most profitable company. . . and more delusions in thinking that people who have bought their products somehow are deluded into believing they are better than anything they've ever used, to the point of continuing to buy more, when you think they are not without ever using them.

Listen to the irrational position you propose that you are asking people to believe:

Either you are saying those customers should deny their own experiences, based on knowing what they had before with PCs and other cell phones, and what they have now with Apple, and listen to your "superior knowledge," instead of their own experience. Or you're saying that they are somehow being inveigled into buying more Apple products by a small, "cadre" of Apple fans who somehow FORCE them into Apple stores to keep buying expensive products, which, according to you, are no better than what they could get for a lot less money.

Cold Heat, people do not act against their own self-interest in such irrational behavior unless there is a distinct reward beyond some illusionary status you deluded anti-Apple people claim exists. If they were buying Apple products for status, why would they buy cases to cover them up and protect them? That would be irrational. They'd want them exposed for everyone to see.