Might make a bit more sense if you liken Buzz201's analogy to that of luxury cars. I still have no idea why someone would spend upwards of £100,000 on a car if one for a 10th of a price fulfills all the same basic requirements, other than to show it off.
Excellent analogy. A car is basically a tin can on wheels that gets you from A to B. There may be some perceived merits in buying one model over another, but basically, it's going to do the same job.
Funny story - I knew a guy from my days playing music who was ROLLING in cash. He bought himself a Toyota Supra, rationalising it that he'd feel better about himself if peopel saw him driving it, and it'd help him to snag a woman. I'd like to think he was joking when he said that. But I'm pretty sure he wasn't.
Guess what? It didn't work. He became super precious about his car, to the point that he wouldn't letanybody into it if they were carrying food or - get this! - HAD food on their person. As in, he would literally ask peple if they had food in their bags before letting them in. (He pulled this on me once when I needed to get somewhere sharpish. I told him to go f*ck himself.) Before long, he'd annoyed so many peopel with this behaviour that those folks who had tolerated his oddball behaviour for years simply decided they'd had enough of him.
And, of course, the car never got him a woman. No amount of shiny possessions can make you attactive tot he opposite sex if you're known for being a complete knob.
The reason I mention all this perilously off topic stuff is because it reminds me of one of the last exchanges I ever had with the guy. I remember warning him that he was alienating people with his antics, and that nobody cared about the things he owned. It was okay for him to take pleasure in them, but falling out with folks because they might have something on their person that could leave a stain on the upholstery was utterly stupid.
Things are things. If their perceived value isn't worth the cost, vote with your wallets, folks.