> 1) The $1000 is misleading because although it's an average, the median is considerably lower, around $100 in that case.

This was my first thought - a dollar is worth wildly different amounts to different people. If I'm struggling to put food on the table and fuel in my car, then a dollar is pretty important. If I'm sitting in my mansion sipping fine wine and contemplating what to do with the afternoon, a thousand dollars may be inconsequential.