You're a dude who wants the 42mm but your wrist doesn't fit in a M/L sport band? I've got extremely small wrists and I still fit in the M/L band on the second smallest hole. Are you sure about that?
Now that I double check, to be honest I'm not positive. All of my sport bands but one are 3rd party (which only came with one), and the other I no longer have the longer part so I can't check at the moment. On the shorter length, I use the middle of the 7 holes.
Or maybe it's a sign that the 38mm is better suited to smaller wrists and the 42mm for longer wrists.
No it's not. Otherwise Apple wouldn't make and sell the shorter version for the 42mm for every sport band they make.
Regarding all the maths, on my Hermes band I do use the smallest hole on the band, though that fits perfectly. So maybe I can use the M/L sport band after all.
You can't say something is worth extra because someone is willing to pay it. People are inherently stupid.
I guess you've just answered the question by not being able to justify the cost with anything other than "it's worth it because people are willing to pay it".
Yes, you can say that because that's the precise definition of market pricing.
As for "justifying it" here's what the Hermes watch includes that you would *not* get with the SS + an Hermes band purchased separately:
1) Hermes engraving on the back of the case. Apple charges $10 more for damage incidents to the Hermes than to the SS. So call that worth (at least) $10.
2) The Hermes face. I'd assign a non-zero value to this. I'd say $10. Yes, 3rd party faces, when eventually available, will undoubtedly be free or $.99 like most apps. However, verified 3rd party faces from real watch makers will undoubtedly cost more. $10 may wind up being (much) lower than such faces will cost. But call it $10 for now.
3) The Hermes version's warranty is the equivalent of purchasing the AC+ for $49 for the SS. So that's another $49.
4) The sport band. That's at least $50 since that's what the other 1st party sport bands cost. However, this one has Hermes branding on it (engraved on the underside of the pin) and is otherwise not available to purchase. I would say at *least* $60, and I wouldn't be surprised if they end up on eBay for more than that.
5) The Hermes edition includes a free, CSR led, web based set up and tour of features. Obviously most of us on here don't need such a thing. But there are those who do, and those who might otherwise pay for such a service. But I'll leave this at $0.
So added up, there's (at least) another $129 in value. So that price gap between the Hermes edition and a SS + Hermes band is narrowed by that amount. Is it worth it? All in the eye of the beholder.