Mike -- Right, everything is market driven if the company is to survive. The point I was trying to make is that since our society is moving in the direction of always having the newest, biggest, fanciest thing you can afford -- or at least make the payments on -- the basic machines are not very popular. The CUT market is a prime example. Today's CUT is the same HP as serious tractors were in early 50's. The suburban/exurban/rural residential piece of ground consisting of 3 to 20 acres is a relatively new phenomenon compared to the days when I was growing up. Back then, we were "out in the country" with a near 1 acre piece of ground with a substantial woods behind it. Our whole society has moved toward a more materialistic way of life which is often referred to as a higher standard of living. Farmland is being sold off in 5 to 20 acres pieces around here and becoming very large yards and mini-farms, thus creating the market for something bigger than a lawnmower to care for it. The people buying these pieces of ground often have substantial income from white collar jobs revolving around some high-tech related skill and tend to favor the most gadget laden items they can find to enhance and support their lifestyle. This approach to life tends to make them want more comfort, more features, more glitz on their tractors, which is ironic since many of them purport to be trying to get back to nature and the simple life while revelling in the luxuries their jobs can support.
Tractors have gone from a needed tool to a lifestyle accessory, and their design reflects that. I'm not hyprocrite enough to knock it, I'm just stating what I believe to be fact. On the large tractor side, the paucity of people willing to work on farms, coupled with the increase in size needed to survive and prosper in that industry has led to larger and larger machinery capable of doing in a few hours what took my FIL a couple of days back in the 50's. The machines are huge, the competition is fierce, and the need to take every possible advantage of available technology to make a profit is large.
That's why we are not far from seeing tractors running around a field directed by GPS with a computer acting through a CVT to control ground speed and implements to put exactly the right mix of pesticides, fertilizers, and seed density for maximum profit while the operator sits in his truck/office on the side of the field keeping an eye on things while watching the market prices change on his laptop.
I'm not knocking it, just stating fact. And yes, impressing the neighbors is part of the attitude people have, but they won't admit it if asked. There have been numerous studies done that show the best and most accurate survey technique to measure the whims of the consumer market is to ask people not what they want, but what their neighbors want.
