I'm not so sure too much has changed since I got into the sport. In 1991 I bought an S-Works FSR for $5200. Using the BOC inflation calculator that comes to $8059. That bike was a complete, non custom bike that had some specialized house components on it (like that sweet 120mm polished Ti stem) and the Specialized Carbon "mag 21" fork. At the time you could easily have added a great deal to the cost by adding some Chris King bling, or perhaps some Ringle anodized parts and ceramic rims and got that sucker up to $6400 easily, and BAM, there's your $10K bike in today's dollars. Adding discs (I think there was one option and it was not hayes yet) would have pushed that price drastically more skyward.
Let's also factor in that in 1991 the USD to CAD was 87c rather than 75c, and you don't even need to bling it out to get close to $10K.
I don't think much has changed. Apart from the fact that a $4600 bike today ($3000 in 1991 dollars) is a mighty fine dual suspension bike, whereas $3K in '91 got you a steaming pile of shit dually, or a nice full rigid.
Let's also ponder my $440 purchase of dual beam 32 watt halogen Niteriders which is $681 today.
my only rebuttal, and a point that I think is still quite valid, is that in 1991 (and even 15 years ago) these bikes and parts were being produced in quite small runs, manufacturing wasn't nearly as sophistated and streamlined as it is now. Materials were not as sophisticated either, and the cost of shipping materials to factories across the world was probably more expensive than it is now. We didn't have the internet to do most of the marketing or even direct sales, so bike manufacturers back in the day had to shell out more from their profit margin in that regard as well.
Many auto manufacturers are offering brand new, price point basic shitbox cars that should easily last 200k with adequate maintenance for not much more than $10k. You know.. a car with a transmission, engine, 4 wheels, stereo etc.
And bike manufacturers are now offering bikes that will be "used up" and get binned after 3 years of use for not much less money. I still don't understand how the f that works?!?
That wasn't meant to be an attack on the statement you made, I just think the bike industry is getting away with it…because we support them.