KatzPajamas, your Synapse is a little nicer than "entry-level".

My bike cost $750 new, and is very much an entry-level road bike. My next bike will probably cost double, if not more than triple that amount. I was not expecting to get as into it as I did. Not counting fit issues with this bike, I find there are a number of things I want to change as I add more and more miles. If I had to do it again, you can bet I'd want to spend $1000+ and not be shopping for a replacement 2 years in. I'm not a racer. Nowhere near.
There's no such thing as more bike than you need--just bike that you don't know that you need yet. (Well, pro-level race bikes aside, that is!)

It's like any hobby, I think--as you get more into it, you find yourself wanting to put more and more money into it for better stuff.