I don't think the MacBook Airs launch is a good comparison.

Sure there was an early adopter tax on being one of the first "thin and light" laptops, but people already know what you can use a MacBook for, there was already a large value proposition in having a MacBook, the extra cost was entirely being more portable than it's full size counterparts. Everything you can do on a Mac, just way easier to take on the go.

I've read a few reviews on it, watched MKBHD's initial review, and outside of a few demo apps they point to the vision pro having no real point to it. Which if true, then it falls in line with existing VR headsets that are a fraction of it's cost and in a niche market, being three times the cost of your competitors is not a good position to be

That doesn’t alter the discussion around a public first launch event. Those who can readily afford it aren’t forming lines to buy it, they’re just ordering it

I speculate it is a test product to work towards ubiquitous ar glasses in the future. Basically to figure out the big problems, produce a few good apps, etc. before trying to make the true product.

It’s competing with the varjo aero, not any of the low end ar tech so it’s actually half the cost of its competitor. It’s still way too expensive for consumers, but that’s not who it’s aimed at