Apple is #1!

Most admired?  Really?
Link to Story

This story makes sense.  Of course executives admire Apple.  They wish they could figure out a way to rip people off and get away with it!!  Is the American public that clueless?  Don’t get me wrong, Apple does make some good looking stuff and they do think hard when they develop something.  However I personally can’t get around the fact that they sell hardware that costs them $5 for $100+!!  I understand (but do not totally agree to some extents) that business need to make money and needs money for R&D, etc.  I just do not think they need to make that much money.  They do not need to sell a $800 computer for $1700 just because some people are stupid enough to pay that.  So I wonder if you actually admire them after you spent $150 on an iPod instead of a SanDisk for $80?  The products may be easy to use and look sexy but how can you admire a company that fleeces you so badly?  Maybe I just have issues?  Maybe I am just cheap?

What do you think? Should Apple be admired? Does the American public admire Apple that much?  Do you feel that your iPod or iPhone was honestly a good deal?