I'd like to think Weber actually did a good job marketing this. Sure it was not a grill that they were really thinking many of us in this group or the weber kettle social media outlets would buy, but they knew we would talk about it, and talk about it a lot. I've talked it up to a lot of high end egg owners who I have no doubt are very interested in the new highest end grill that weber just released. I too wish it was priced lower, but we don't know at this point how much money went into research and development, test, shipping models out to dealers, etc.. I'd like to think the price will drop shortly after the first year...once those of us who might be on the fence as far as if we actually want it are totally sold, but still inhibited by the price tage. At first I definitely though it was over priced, but everyday I am seeing something new that it can do. Initially the amazing ribs review really impressed me then it was Shoestringshop posting a pic with his hand on the lid while it was running 600 degrees. Now we've all seen that it has a ATC hole already in it. Then I heard that you can run it super hot with the difuser to make pizzas without additional attachments. This grill at least in my eyes gets cooler and cooler by the day, and if you can allow yourself to not get sucked into the social media rants about the price, or how many performers or BGE's you could buy, you can see that this grill is freaking awesome if you are in the market this grill is geared to. I love that I can do pretty much everythiing in my kettles that my friends with offset smokers, eggs, etc can do and it makes me smile even more when they see me do it and taste my final product. That is why we are all here. We are in a minority of grillers and smokers and love doing what we do with what a lot of people would turn their noses at. If given the money to buy a brand new perfomer, a lot, if not most of use would go out a buy a few used grils and some more accesories before buying 1 brand new performer. There is also a sizable group of keeping up with the Jones' kind of people out there that will see this new Weber product as the new thing they have to have to outdo someone else. I can't hate on that, and good for weber for going after them. Who know's, maybe this grill sells as good or better than Weber is expecting and they will have some more profits to put towards the kind of products we would like to see, like bringing back some colors, or offering some of the product only available outside of North America.
I think I'm rambling on a little bit, so to end, I'd say this grill is like a expensive car. Just because it's out of your price range it doesn't mean you hate it. I think its crazy that people are so pissed off about this Grill. If the manufacturer of the car you drive came out with a kick ass car that was 10 times the cost of the model that you are driving, would you hate that car? I doubt it.
I get that people thought it was going to be something the the price range of your average kettlehead and you feel a little betrayed, but it was never suggested this was going to be a affordable grill. Since day one, everything we have seen included "Grill of a Lifetime". I sure as hell wouldn't expect a car that was marketed as the car of my lifetime to be something I could easily afford....more of a holy grail, set some goals and someday hopefully make it happen.
sorry if there are any typos or grammatical mistakes....I don't have time right now to read through my rant! LOL. Back to work for me.
And one more thing I just thought of. If everyone is trashing this grill, chance are it won't do as well as it would if everyone was saying "If I could only"... This grill fails and who knows what weber has to cut to make up for it. Take something out of the lineup? Raise prices on Performers? I hope this grill does well. I hope to have one some day. I hope it makes Weber a better company in all demographics.