My first road bike was about $800 in 94 and it was agreat bike. Bought an entry level Redline with sora in 2010. For about the same money, bigest POS I ever rode. In fact bike geometry did not match anything Redline had published and it matched up to two different frame sizes partially. I then spent $1300 on an aluminum framed Felt with 5700 105. Really nice bike.great ride shifted awsome and was pretty light. Best bike I ever owned.
I came into some money last year and was able to get a bike and carbon wheels (MSRP for both bike/wheelscombined would be in the range targeted here) and it is an incredible bike. Will I race it? Never. Am I faster? Doubtful. I enjoy every minute I get to ride it and think about riding it when I am not. Do I feel better than any one riding a bike with a cheaper price tag? No.
I bought it for me and I can feel a difference. Just like when I was a kid riding BMX, a $100 huffy is not the same compared to an $800 Hutch, GT or Redline. Just because a person does not race has nothing to do with the equipment they buy. If that were the case Chevrolet would not sell Corvettes or need to build any for the mid life male. I like to ride and what I chose to ride is insignificant in the big picture.