There was an interesting article in the WSJ that talks about "contingency anxiety," and explains why car manufacturers like Land Rover add ridiculous capabilities, like fording waters 35.4" inches deep, in their Range Rover.

  Car makers call it "contingency anxiety," the urge to buy a mechanically
  overqualified vehicle because maybe, once in a blue moon—or a
  hurricane on a high tide—the car buyer might need the extra functionality.

I think this is tapping into the same psychology. I've seen people insist on buying AWD in the Bay Area "just in case" they go skiing to Lake Tahoe, but never do.

The reality is that most Tesla owners will simply commute well within the regular range. Telsa is reducing the, "but how will we do the 4 hour drive to grandma's house for Thanksgiving" argument by providing an inconvenient -- but workable -- solution. They're betting that's enough to get a meaningful number of people over the hump.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142412788732443980457810...