I disagree on a couple accounts. I have a BMW, and I threw the money away when I bought it, knowing full well that it would not get me to work or the supermarket any better than a Honda Civic would, but it takes me there in comfort, and it brings me joy. I paid the extra money for the happiness and the joy. There is value in that, and it was worth the money TO ME.
re: bling status, I also disagree. I think that if you were to roll up to your coffe shop ride with a SR11 SRM and a PC8, there is definitely some bling factor there...
and there are plenty of people out there who want the bling factor AND to improve their riding.