On Sun, 18 Sep 2005 23:42:24 -0700, Richard Riley
wrote:



OK, go along on a thought experiment with me for a moment.

There are lots of machines out there that have a very natural upper
market limit. Let's say, steam rollers, combine harvesters and hook
and ladder fire trucks.

Suppose those vehicles were free. You have to pay for gas, insurance,
maintenance and storage, but if you want a hook and ladder, you just
go pick one up.

How many people would do so?

Well, every fire department would have a couple. And there would be
the occasional fire truck enthusiast - there's one that lives down the
street from me, who has a beautiful pumper truck from the early 50's.
It's his hobby. But most people wouldn't choose fire trucks for their
hobby.

How many people would sign up for a free Cessna 172?

I'm guessing a couple of hundred thousand. It's just a guess. But
think about this. How many times have you offered to take someone
flying, and have them turn you down? It's just not their thing.
..
25 years ago, still giddy from my new private ticket, I offered to pay
for flight training for any or all of my twenty-something employees.
Not one accepted and only two ever wanted to go flying.

And the famous words of my sweet wife, "I've been, don't ask me
again".