Pretty much the list I expected, but also well outside the price point of most who would consider either Yuneec or even DJI. Chevy/Ford may be a POS, but is suggesting buying a Ferrari a real solution?
I view it a little differently, although I agree that prices are a lot higher. Analogy; I can buy a fairly low priced car that can do much or most of what I need and it should last long enough to get paid off before it breaks. If I needed to tow stuff or carry heavy loads I’ve have to buy another vehicle. Then again, if I had to carry a lot of big stuff that would be left for periods of time in the vehicle I would also need to get a van. Suddenly I’ve acquired three vehicles. Too much money spent.
Or...i could buy a new or used pick up truck with good handling qualities for similar or a little more money than a couple of less expensive vehicles that will do what I need for quite a few years to come and do that with a single vehicle.
Since I got rid of the Cinestar I’ve bought a continuing series of platforms to do one or a couple things more the last one did. Currently I have 7 platforms and will change from one to the other as they suit the tasks. The total $ amount for those platforms exceeds what I would have spent on an Alta where the only upgrades needed were additions to payload variety, with any of the payloads exceeding what’s provided on the smaller less expensive platforms taking up space out back.
I don’t need more multirotors, I only need two, one primary, one back up, with the versatility to carry whatever I want or need them to.
So for me it’s not a Ferrari situation, but one of maximizing versatility for the money spent, along with long term durability. The more expensive stuff also allows delivery of much higher quality product, and provides the means to do things the smaller stuff can’t, and that equates to more revenue intake. The higher end makers are also much more responsive to customer needs and get new features and optional equipment to their customer base a lot faster, with higher quality, than the consumer makers. Of course that comes at a price.
You can’t hang LIDAR under a 520. It can’t even carry an a6400 with a fixed 20mm lens and I want 40+ mpxl and good glass, meaning full frame to deliver the necessary goods for the intended market. They don’t even make a decent IR cam that will fit a Plus or 520. So to keep buying the same thing over and over again with minor alterations is self limiting.
Sadly, the only “consumer” drone that can do most of what I need for under $10k is a three letter job, and I have issues with their policies.