Why is an iPhone ridiculously expensive?

Spoken like someone who doesn't know anything about technology :) If you don't like iOS or Apple's phones how about you just don't buy them instead of trying to justify your purchase.

lol, the 2012 Nexus 4 and the iPhone 6 could not be anymore different. All phones are expensive when they are launched. There are plenty of phones that are more expensive than iPhones. Check out the prices on the most recent Galaxy, or the HTC One. They both cost more.

So you're so tech savvy that you can root your android phone but apparently incapable of using the internet to actually check the prices of IPhone competitors that are about as expensive (if not pricier) than iPhone?

I prefer Apple to Android. You have the opposite preferences. Guess what? Both of those are fine. I do not have to insult/attack your preference in order for mine to be valid.

The phone itself is not the only factor for me. I LOVE the iOS. I have an iPhone 5- did not need to upgrade to the 5c/5s, I just upgraded to iOS 7 and now I do not need to upgrade to the 6/6 Plus- I will just upgrade to iOS 8.

There are other phones that are just as, and more, expensive than iPhones.

Because a lot of people think that the more expensive something is the better it will be.

Because a lot of people are willing to pay it. Part of it is a preference. Another part is the cult of apple. Sheep follow other sheep.