> Many say they want small phones and manual transmissions but then don't show up.

I wonder if this is some kind of enthusiast bias where owners of these niche products love them so much they run them into the ground so the demand slumps

I prefer manual transmissions and take care of my cars so I am not out there buying a new car as often as other folk. I suspect people who find a phone they really love aren’t trading it in every couple of years like most people.

I mean, why would you stop using a device you care for, especially when the segment is shrinking. An older manual transmission is probably just better than a newer one that they don’t make as many of.

Seems backwards to me. I even bought a 16 Pro because I wanted a nicer phone, and I returned it because I liked it less than the Mini. If there was a new Mini I would have purchased and kept it.

I can't say much about maintaining older cars because I lease and that's a different topic. The idea is romantic, but my circumstances are what they are.

It comes down to economies of scale for manufacturers. If anything, the outliers like the Minis or 6-speeds should be priced much higher than regular offerings, but the general perception is that something named a Mini or something you have to row on your own should be less expensive. I'd love me an iPad mini Pro, I'd pay around $700-800, but how many of us are there for Apple to bother?