Coming into this scene you see these wheels and think it validates the rider as a "true" rider.

But most of us, if not everyone that rides one, realizes at some point that it's just not pratical. And it's a lot of money to spend on an impraticality. I had an awesome Hed 3, but after awhile of worrying about it on the streets it kind of became a nuissance. Now I'm back to a spoked front.

In an urban scenario, as you've specified, nothing beats a good spoked wheel.

To answer your question in a very general way, all these wheels are different from each other. Different materials, different designs which contribute to different advantages and disadvantages, different platform (tubular/clincher). This is why the prices are different.

Within the realm of which these wheels are intended to be used. A very engaged discussion can be had about these wheels.

But in an urban scenario, though they definitely look cool, they don't belong on the street.

That being said. Where do Mavic Ellipses fall in all this? I like those.