Originally posted by wlachan Call me basis but I think Pentax aren't popular in the US for good reason - Americans are simply too obsessed of the size. Don't believe me? Look at all the big bulky heavy cars that they have built, the most fuel hungry jet engine powered tanks, the way jumbo-sized fat filled fast foods, and not to mention those God knows why any sane people would go for big ugly fake implants. The reason is really simply - if it is big, we love it. Small Pentax? FAILED!
I thought I'd break my reply to your points into separate groups.
Back when i was in high school there were a few unwritten rules that everybody I knew went by. One of the rules was "Don't speak ill of someone else's car if you don't have one of your own." Can you name the major Canadian automakers for me? The only cars that I am aware of being built in Canada are "big bulky heavy" full size Dodge trucks.
Fuel consumption is pretty far down my personal checklist when it comes to tank design. I'm far more concerned with "Can it blow the crap out of the other guy?" and "Can it take a beating and still run?".
The last time I was in Canada, the vast majority of fast food restaurants were the same ones we have here in the US, serving mostly the same items. Okay, Taco Bell had French Fries (gross by the way), but the rest of the menu had the same crap on it. Wait, I forgot! The sodas at the Taco Bell were HUGE compared to the ones in the US.
Honestly, I'd much rather talk with someone with "big ugly fake" implants than some smug, arrogant, condescending individual who obviously has no clue what he is talking about.
We also love small here in the US. Ever heard of a little invention called the microprocessor? People in the US love small cameras. For example, the Pentax M line was very popular here in its day.