I read this the other day and used it on a customer yesterday...worked a treat.
It's so true though. When I was young, I was taught "Always buy the best you can afford", and since then I always have, and have always loved whatever it is i've spent my money on. I've had friends - one in particular - who will scrimp on everything, and always end up with either with a product they're not 100% happy with and will eventually end up upgrading anyway, or will just be disappointed with that will then lead to a disliking of whatever it is they're doing (riding, surfing, skiing, etc). These same people are the ones who won't ever offer to pay for food/petrol/beers, and who are always annoyed that what they're using doesn't stand up to the quality of what everyone else is using...whilst they're on the same income.
To me, this whole argument also comes down to dignity. I would prefer to have a few dollars less in my bank account but mates who know I won't cheap out on them, and who prefer to spend time with me because of a lack of frugality (not using me, just not having to worry about always needing to lend me money or me being a tosser if by saying 'too bad' if they are a few bucks short) than to be known as that prick of a customer who demands a discount (and who therefore becomes known as the cheapskate who no one wants to deal with, or puts all the employees in that awkward position of having to say 'no' because the product is already heavily discounted), or the annoying friend who can never pay his own way because he's too fixated on himself and his own funds. The OP is exactly right; the tightass thread does nothing but highlight those who are exactly that...guys who don't just want to save a few bucks on the odd occassion because they can't afford the rent this week, but are actually continual, undignified and self-glorifying tightasses.
End rant. High-horse dismembered and blended into glue. To be sold for a healthy profit.
