I'm in the Les Baer $1600-1900 bracket. Still a lot of money. But for a guy who likes to pound thousands upon thousands of rounds a year through a 1911 platform, with minimum to no trouble, it's the only way to fly. Plus the accuracy is nothing short of phenomenal. And there is pride-of-ownership, too. In my immediate shooting circle, meh, they've all seen it/done it before. At the range a lot of folks want to try it. And they, too, are amazed at the smoothness of action, the trigger, the laser beam accuracy out beyond normal pistol distances. To me it's a tool, albeit an expensive one, for fun/serious competition/beer bets with the boys, you name it. If it gets beat up in the process, so be it. Like a smoking hot wife/gf or a custom car, it doesn't do any good just to look at them - ya gotta ride'em to get your money's worth.