I wonder if there's a way to have someone test-ride a really really heavy low-end bike (that you wouldn't really carry anyway) and then a better one?

I know that for some people, there's a budget. I guess everyone should learn that buying something cheap several times because it breaks is not more cost efficient than buying something a bit more expensive that lasts. Heck, I learned that with shoes ages ago

I honestly think that some people still see bikes as toys. And you're right, back in the day other things were cheaper too but I bet if you compared the price to income, the bike wasn't THAT cheap. I'm lucky. When my parents bought me a bike, they went to the local bike shop and got me a decent one.