Patriot,
Your explanations are falling on deaf ears. The "sheer" numbers seem to be the 40% extra MSRP equalling an extra $170 profit to people selling the programmers. List prices of: $425 vs $595.
If it were a matter of having to redesign the programmer it "might" be understandable, but the fact is that the only "difference" is in the performance "TUNE" for which they are charging an extra $170 bucks per unit. A custom performance "tune" for a specific engine/transmission/drive train does NOT require a major effort. Most people will probably make changes to the stock tune anyway. It is more of a starting point?
The VCR analogy is very good. When VCRs and CD players cost $1,000 --- you never saw a brand later come out with a $1,400 model that was basically identical to the $1,000 units, in fact the price dropped as new models were produced. Just because you could play a different VHS movie or CD on them, did not cost you 40% more. So your example seems to NOT favor the Predator price gouging scheme.
Maybe the people at Predator (Granatelli?) are right and "most" people who buy Hummer H2s are so easily duped that they will pony up 40% more for their product just because they market their programmer as being specially designed for the Hummer. You appear to be a perfect example of someone who seems not to care. To me however, that seems utterly absurd. But, as you say, this is America (cue patriotic music) and I won't have to pay the artifically inflated prices that most dealers are charging their customers. I will, also, make a note of which companies felt it was good business to overcharge Hummer owners.
I thought the point was not about how great America is though, but about the Granatelli Predator pricing being all crewed up. I guess that is how you got your nickname though? I guess that even if you do pay too much for Hummer accessories --- you aren't all bad!
God Bless America.
Ed