Originally posted by Cambo Well if we use your market share graphs and statistics one could come the conclusion the Pentax K200D is a better camera than the Nikon D700 and the best camera on the market is a Canon Xsi (Rebel).
To be honest marketshare is only part of the story at the end of the day Profit is King - Selling more than anyone else is pointless if you don't make a profit.
Take a look at Sony, they are aggressively marketing there cameras at very very competitive prices - now I have no evidence to back this but I would hazard a guess that they are selling camera bodies at a loss to cement a market position hoping that enough of their market buy into their very expensive lenses and accesories etc.
It is a legitimate business practice and as long as the losses are offset by the purchasing of high profit margin accessories the tactic may very well pay off.
Pentax firstly need to ensure they are making a profit, they do not have the luxury of up specing their cameras and selling at the same price as they are now. Any investment in AF R&D will require a return and as the Pentax market share is quite small this investment will have to be amortised over a smaller base making for very expensive cameras.
Now why do people buy Pentax - because they offer better value for money (basically they are cheaper). Same reason that the highest selling model is the budget model from canon.
If Pentax dump a heap of cash into developing a faster AF and the faster FPS to go with it (Cause that will be your next whine) they would basically be committing suicide.
The future of Pentax resides with the K-m if that gains market share then you may see R&D into Auto Focus - if it flops you may be waiting a very long time for improved AF.