Expensive is a relative term.

For someone who can afford an iPhone+ and usually not the lowest storage capacity, iPhone X is clearly affordable/manageable.

The whole iPhone line up has a price anchoring effect pushing the buyer to consider the next slightly expensive option, from iPhone SE all the way to iPhone X. I know many who are waiting for X, which is ideal for the Snapchat generation of (literally) rich kids as well as the ones who want the most sought after gadgets.

I think the 7+ sales really gave Apple an idea about how much customers were/are willing to spend.

The current price of iPhone X is positioning Apple well for selling an iPhone X+, when/if that ever happens, they can just reduce the current iPhoneX price by $50 and have an X+ for $50 or $100 more.

With the product and price lineup Apple has, its set for a great year in 2018. If $AAPL goes down, imo its a great chance to get a few.

Either the X isn't expensive enough or the 8 isn't cheap enough.

For me, a 128GB 6+ user, the 64gb storage option doesn't work.

My options are: $950 256gb 8+ $1150 256gb X

$200 isn't enough of a difference when the cost is spread out over two years. Why on earth wouldn't I wait 2 months to buy "10" instead of "8"?! when the cost difference is so minor.

I thought the main feature of the iPhone X is that you get a larger screen and better cameras in a not-much-larger than an iPhone 8 (not plus) package. At least, that's the main feature to me.

You underestimate the draw of new and shiny. All my friends that use iPhones skipped the 8, and most are dying to get the X. I am betting that Apple struggles to meet demand.

iPhone X looks more like a dev kit.