Enzio Ferrari famously held his sports car customers in contempt, but took their money to finance his racing.
The thing that gets me is that the gear whch is used by real athletes is considered unfashionable by Kool Kids. My Ron Hill tracksters are not exactly high fashion, but at every athletics meet, half the runners wear them. I even get comments about my fashion sense form teenage kids. I never get that when I'm walking or driving.