And I'm saying it might be not because of difference in immediate quality, but because some brands have found their working formula and slowed down experimentin

And I'm saying it might be not because of difference in immediate quality, but because some brands have found their working formula and slowed down experimenting, while others continue cranking out new stuff. Brooks saddles look the same, act the same and cost the same now as 20 years ago. A saddle that has been sitting in warehouse for 5 years would probably have about the same market value as saddle made this year. I'm no Brooks expert but that's the impression I get. Shimano on the other hand updates its component groups each year. Their products are highly evolved already, but still they find things to improve. So people upgrade.