Originally Posted by
Leinster
Yes, in that scenario, buying the cheaper bike is the better bet. If that buyer gets a bike with Sora/Tiagra level parts, for $1000ish, it will be more than good enough to decide if they actually like cycling.
That buyer should not then expect to cost-effectively put a Di2/AXS/hydraulics group onto that same frame. If they ride enough that they find themselves in the market for a fancy bike, they would be better off trading in/keeping the $1,000 bike as a winter bike/indoor trainer, and buying a new $4-5,000 bike.
Except for the impossibility of making a rim braked bike into a disc-braked bike, they absolutely could cost-effectively put Di2 or AXS on such a bike. Using the Specialized Allez, which was the highlighted bike in the OP's video. The highest end disc Allez is 105 and has MSRP of $2300. Adding a Di2 conversion kit brings it to ~$3300.
The alternative nearest neighbor (disc + Di2 race geo) is the the Tarmac SL7 Expert at $5500 ? If you're happy with rim brake the Allez Elite w/105 is $1500; add Di2 and you have a $2500 bike.
If working with 9 or 10 speed $1k bike, you'd be adding $2k for the full Di2 Ultegra kit, but even so, then you're still at $3K instead of $5500