Why Do People Buy Prius'?

                                       GAS VS HYBRID TECHNOLOGY

woohoo toyota prius! its advertised to get about 50mpg and the cost of a new one is $24,520, http://www.toyota.com/  (depending on states and msrp). Now the question is, Is It Worth It? To me no. ok take a Honda civic base model which gets 35 or more mpg, now you can get one of those for $15,605 msrp according to http://www.honda.com/. Now you justify the cost diffrence which is around $9000. You next take into your annual fuel cost for each vehicle and the Honda is a better deal. You would have to keep the Prius for way longer to justify the cost over a Honda.
             next is the reliability of the Prius. We have not "mastered" hybrid technology yet and you must take into consideration if that $5,000 battery in the Prius will last 10 years. The Honda has a more simple design while the Prius has more computers and other doodads than a space ship. So over the long term the Honda is by far a better buy. Now im just comparing the Honda civic because its a all gas powered economy car and the prius is its biggest rival next to the corrolla.

             BUT WAIT! i still have not answered the question why do people buy them? I have heard some people say they do it for the environment when that is a false statement. the lipo battery that is in the prius is way more harmful and toxic than the carbon dioxide coming out of the Civics gas engine. case and point Honda wins for gas,reliability and saving the environment. PLUS THE PRIUS IS UGLY AS HELL!, just my opinion.... Nickel