One of the interesting responses I hear from some people as they browse inventory is "I must have good taste!" THAT claim always follows their choosing particular items to inspect, and finding those things to have what they perceive as high/higher/highest cost.

I find that reaction REALLY interesting.

It's NOT the same as slightly passive-aggressive statements like "Why hell... WE had one o'THEM!", and "I just saw one at the thrift store for a dime!", and "I grew up with those! Why are they in HERE?"

It is part of our collective brain, from centuries of cross-cultural training, to think that cost equals not mere expense but certain intellectual and social positions gifted only to some. Therefore, in thinking this way,"good taste" is gained not by pursuing knowledge, etc., but by pure chance, luck of the draw, being tapped on the head by god, or owning good genes. And, remember now, you DISCOVER you HAVE this Gift of Chance by the experience of looking at price tags.

It's just like those who thinks that there is a Muse who creates great Art through the hands of an innocent artist. Lack of ownership really irritates me.

IS there an element of decision making that DOES indicate some sort of "intrinsic" (absorbed) sense of quality? I think so, yes, but it is NOT a gift from On High.

It's partially in our general atmosphere. "Cost" CAN (but doesn't always) indicate rarity, purer materials, better construction, inventive concepts, stronger expressions of an Era, and usefulness. On the lower, less rare tiers are ideas like Fashion (the desire to belong, and keeping a free market from creating too many traditions, which can offer deeper satisfactions AND slower sales), and, a pretense of Improved ideas (products) leading to More Promising Future.

We only view autos as having ANY functional value because our population is spread out beyond timely & intimate (foot) distances of the needs, amenities, & careers we expect and demand, and, we have so many objects needing transport often enough, that hauling becomes an economic/exchange issue.

If instead we were a nomadic people, the concept of owning many items, even transportable, falls by the side of the road, so to speak, and the need for them to be long-lasting gets down to a case by case, no-nonsense, is it
functional ? judgement call.

"We don't need to haul tent posts. We'll cut more when we get to the new hunting ground... but keep your bows and arrows, because we need food and protection all along the way."

Other than that, in our world, it's all about consumers eating non-tangible images fed by a market needing our currency for their survival.

I think to the Corvette. It has ALWAYS had one of THE WORST reliability ratings of ANY car EVER in this country, plus it's famous for squeaking, creaking, and rattling. YET, it also holds the record for the highest percent of dedicated owners... these people buy Corvettes for the most non-tangible of reasons. Perceived image. Harley Davidson motorcycles have something of the same phenomenon going for itself. They're not nearly as good as machines as they are the lubricant between like-minded people who need to belong.

In the 50's and 60's, there was a TRUE CULT of Volkswagen Beetles, but they were also more efficient, less costly, and more reliable than American cars. Only when the Japanese began making headway into this country, did the VW get put in a lesser perspective (as a mediocre performer in a rapidly changing market). By 1970, VW was scrambling, but never did match the Japanese, especially in reliability. The NEW "Beetle" (which has NOTHING to do with the original auto) is a reliability nightmare, but VW has consciously promoted their Cult following through niche marketing design, including references to the original. Toyota has done this with their Prius as well. They designed the "ground" from which the Cult would sprout...the "belonging" factor... membership in a slightly-less-than-Mainstream factor... the Them vs Us factor. Bless our Membership Pins on Wheels.

So, "good taste" has its valid angles, especially through our culture's lenses of Reliability, Longevity, and Functionality, but is pushed by images of group acceptability AND separation within sub-cultural positions... which is NOT Good Taste, but well-learned responses to money as a definer of social standing.

Good Taste has more to do with the arduous task of seeking & gaining the conscious ability to recognize rarity, purer materials, better construction, inventive concepts, stronger expressions of an Era, and usefulness.