People buy stuff for the image. Apple has cultivated a certain image with its branding that people are attracted to and buy their products because of it. I’ve heard it described as “People don’t buy what you make but what you are.” The image and brand of the company is often why people buy from them. Apple produces products for cool hip people, not the stuffy old guys in suits! You’re a cool person, right?

Something being expensive is often part of the image. People like to pretend they’re rich and the more expensive all their stuff is the more they can project that image. It can also be self validation. Owning expensive products can someone feel better about their lives.

Gracias!

Hey Baby, schöner Arschbackenoberschenkelabtrennfalte!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasocial_interaction

I’ve never heard of Nostr but Mastodon is a twitter clone and I don’t find that style of website suits discussion well since you subscribe to accounts rather than communities.