However, I think Lemmy was quite clear in his last sentence that he couldn't see how people could be over-enthusiastic about their bikes
I said nothing of the sort. You won't find over-enthusiastic anywhere in my post.
I feel very sad for you that you can't appreciate the beauty of the engineering in these bikes, but like everybody else that hasn't "seen the light", you won't be able to understand what you're missing.
How wonderfully patronizing! If you are going to be rude might be an idea to read what I write first. What you seem to do is read what you want me to have said and then reply to that. But even so, I don't see the need to be rude.
My point was pretty simple and most people understood it. I pretty much agree with Flecc about why people get emotional over machinery:
Could it be more an affection for ones own opinion than affection for the product, i.e. I'm right, you're wrong?
I have three bikes, electric, folder and road. All of them are top quality because I am lucky enough to be able to afford them. I appreciate and enjoy all of them. I am enthusiastic about them as any of my posts will show.
I don't feel emotional about them because, first of all I do not need to believe my choices are the 'best', just my choice and I feel no no need to prove my choices right. Discussing one's choices is fun but I often don't because so many people can't accept someone else's point of view as valid. (cf Flecc above)
Secondly if any one of them was stolen, the 'like for like' replacement' would be just as good as the original as far as I am concerned. I don't feel emotional about them as I would a member of my family or a friend or even a pet because they can be replaced.
Simples