Most car purchases include a hefty consideration paid to how the thing looks--and even more so, what image it presents. In my case, practical--not flashy--is important to me. Heck, for bike people, the kind of bike you buy is very similar: technologically the differences are so slight that image plays a huge role.
I think anytime we plunk down a big chunk of change, our vanity plays a big role. And in some way, why shouldn't it? If I'm going to spend a bunch of money, I want to like the way it makes me feel.
