Originally Posted by
Slaninar
Chains and cassettes still differ in price.
All the pre 11 speed RDs and FDs rendered obsolete with the introduction of a different cable pull ratios.
Planned obsolescence (aided with marketing) is common in practically all the industries - bike industry alike. Getting people to buy new stuff, instead of using old stuff, God forbid repairing it. That's the way world runs today, whether one is aware of it, or not.
now you're pivoting and stretching the truth, the difference in consumables is at most ~10%. No one is really denying what you are saying, that marketing and planned obsolescence aren't real things, but to say there is no difference other than an added gear and that things are getting substantially more expensive at the same time simply isn't true in this case.