> It makes apparently simple purchases really hard work. Yup, that's the crux of the matter and it is on purpose. Pure market segmentation as explained by Joel

> It makes apparently simple purchases really hard work. Yup, that's the crux of the matter and it is on purpose. Pure market segmentation as explained by Joel Spolsky[0]. They want to capture the surplus from the <rich or lazy or inept> who can't or won't check the prices while keeping the price-aware customers. [0] Joel Spolsky: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/CamelsandRubberDuckies.html http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/CamelsandRubberDuckie...