I bought a new bike recently. I could have spent anything I wanted, but when I started looking it became unclear what more money would get me that I needed, so when I pulled the trigger the only model upgrade that seemed meaningful was disc brakes. Would a fancy drivetrain have been worth the money for my recreational puttering around for exercise? I can't see it.
For people at the margins of sport riding, sure, maybe, but how many of us fit that description?