> A Mercedes will get you laid

Only because it’s a sign you have money, not because cars are cool.

> the latest iphone won't and likely never will.

When apple has a $5k iPhone it may once again become a status symbol.

Almost 50% of Americans have an iPhone of some version. It’s obviously not a status symbol of everyone has one. iPhones, like cars, are mostly undifferentiated.

Apple has a lot of room to build a status symbol, but admittedly they haven’t been too successful when trying with the Apple Watch, so I will admit the odds are low they’ll succeed, but I believe the market exists in the long run.