Hey folks, generalizations are great, but the main understanding that everyone is correct about is that people need to do their own math. Their own markets, their own situations, their own usage needs to be taken into account by anyone thinking of "paying to save".

For instance, my situation allows me to purchase a Prius purely based on the gas mileage savings (30-40K mileage per year @45 MPG with 2K tax break at a 4K initial purchase premium) versus buying a comparable model without the mileage/break. I do agree that the money wasn't the only influence over the price (I would like to encourage car manufactures to think a bit beyond looks and "power").

Just remember that the key point should be not be what technology is best, but to actually equipping others to determine the "whys" of a technology benefit in the future.

I would propose that the most costly liability of life is ignorance and dependence on others' ignorance.