Because of the progress, that is. Don't you just hate it? A new camera comes out every year, year and a half, and you sort of, you know, must have it. I am not sure, but I say it is safe to assume that about 20 years ago, you bought a camera and that was that. Oh, now you have to be careful, monitor the markets, watch for those rumors, because when the sh*t goes down, people panic and you don't get a good price. 
I think equipment is overpriced when it comes to the market, when a new version of that same piece is introduced, price drops to what it should have been all along, and when you're selling your *mint* piece, it is undervalued.
However I see a good thing in this nevertheless. It encourages proper use of photographic tools. If your beloved 1D or whatever camera you own, just lies on a shelf and you kiss it goodnight everytime you go to sleep, pity. When you've made a hundred photos you can be really proud of, you can say it was worthwile, and you didn't really lose any money.
)
). So til now, I got an Ixus 300 (for three years now, still using it) an Powershot G3 (since june last year, using it very much), never regretted any of both cams, and now I'm looking for the 20D, will probably buy it end of 2004, begin of 2005, so it won't be all new, perhaps already cheaper (after christmas), can plan for a longer time with the money, and perhaps change my mind. That cam will then be good for the next 3 or 4 years at least (if it will still be working, I hope so...). So that will be 1500 Euro invested and never regretted... :P
