Power meters are expensive because only wankers buy them. Pro's use them because their team tells them too (to help them make the required UCI weight). Sorry but I didn't see Merckx, Induran or LeMonde use them and they were all pretty good without them. When you train, You have to focus on your body and what you want from it, if you are lazy a ****ty power meter will tell you something you should already know. If you think a PM gives you the edge good luck, and don't be pissed when someone beats you to the line without one.