The Dyson Airblade - Ok, this is a brilliant idea, a fan with no exposed moving parts and that makes no noise. BRILLIANT. Except of course the fact its 300+$. 300$, for a fan! Seriously, who the hell is willing to pay 300$ for a fan! I am pretty frivolous with my money and I loves me a new gadget, but thats taking things to extremes even for me.
Lots of people are.
There are enough people that Dyson is able to charge that much and still sell quite a few of them.
I can immediately think of several groups.
Obviously there are the people who have a fortune in debt and just put it on their credit card.
I've seen quite a few wealthy people who take their very expensive toys in places that make most normal people shudder. I've seen a Lamborghini on washboard roads on the mountains. I've seen a Ferrari among a bunch of hummers in a remote campsite. I've seen several corvettes on parade while offroading in the desert.
For those who do have the means, a cool looking bladeless fan for $300 is a reasonable price for such a toy.
There are businesses who want to impress. There are conference rooms where a fan would be nice. Imagine an extended mahogany board table surrounded by executive chairs that cost a few thousand dollars each. Would such a company have a cheap $5 fan in corner?
There are also business who have been hit with lawsuits in the past from injuries from fans. Spending a few bucks more on a bladeless fan is a small investment against the future.