The trouble with Konas is that they're a bit, ummm, mass market? They made the Hot in the US, and the Hei Hei/ King Kahuna from Ti, but otherwise they were always run-of-the-mill steel frames with good geometry. For this reason a lot of people owned them and liked them (because they rode better than a price-equivalent Trek or Marin. Those people then want something a little more special, and they're willing to pay a whole load of cash for a Ti Kona, or perhaps a Hot.
Instead, perhaps they should look (as the more enlightened members of our congregation have suggested) at the other alternatives for the price - a custom Setavento with warranty for those wedded to the geometry, or something a little nicer/ less 'masstige' retro for the same sort of money - to be honest I'd be surprised if I could get any more cash for my Merlin XLM frame, despite it costing over 50% more when new, and arguably having a better justification for the price (Massachussets built, probably the best welds in the business, a geneology that can be traced right back to the early MTBs etc etc....)
Oh, and perhaps (those in glass houses throwing stones aside) we ought to get away from the fixation on titanium - no, it won't magically propel you down the trail, sweeping all obstacles from your path. Ceteris Paribus, I'd imagine most riders wouldn't notice the ride difference between Ti and a top-end steel tubeset. Both will last into obsolescence given a little care and attention, and for the money you'd pay for off-the-shelf Ti, you can get custom steel from someone like Robin Mather.
Instead, perhaps they should look (as the more enlightened members of our congregation have suggested) at the other alternatives for the price - a custom Setavento with warranty for those wedded to the geometry, or something a little nicer/ less 'masstige' retro for the same sort of money - to be honest I'd be surprised if I could get any more cash for my Merlin XLM frame, despite it costing over 50% more when new, and arguably having a better justification for the price (Massachussets built, probably the best welds in the business, a geneology that can be traced right back to the early MTBs etc etc....)
Oh, and perhaps (those in glass houses throwing stones aside) we ought to get away from the fixation on titanium - no, it won't magically propel you down the trail, sweeping all obstacles from your path. Ceteris Paribus, I'd imagine most riders wouldn't notice the ride difference between Ti and a top-end steel tubeset. Both will last into obsolescence given a little care and attention, and for the money you'd pay for off-the-shelf Ti, you can get custom steel from someone like Robin Mather.