It's not selfish if they mean they "can't" rather than they "don't want". If someone doesn't want to spend $2000 instead of $1000 on something that does what t

It's not selfish if they mean they "can't" rather than they "don't want". If someone doesn't want to spend $2000 instead of $1000 on something that does what they want/need better than the $1000 version; I'd argue that they don't really mean they "don't want" to, they mean they can't financially, whether literally or justifiably. I can't justify spending $2000 on a phone that does things I want it to do better than the $800 equivalent (which we shouldn't forget is also quite a premium to many), so I buy the "cheaper" one and "make it work". If the difference between $1000 and $2000 were inconsequential to me, then I don't see why I wouldn't "want" to pay that premium. So, I argue, GP isn't selfish as you put it, they just choose their words poorly on this point; or you take them too literally. I'd be interested to hear from GP in this regard.