"Future-proofing" usually means paying 40% more for features you never use. The opportunity cost is real.

A common Indian tech-buying pattern: spend 30-50% more on a phone or laptop for "future-proofing" — extra RAM, larger storage, higher-spec processor. The actual use rarely justifies the premium. Most buyers replace devices within 3-4 years regardless of spec, and the over-spec'd component is rarely the failure point that triggers the next upgrade. The rational allocation is buy-for-current-needs at a fair price and replace when actually needed. A ₹50K laptop replaced in 3 years (total: ₹50K) outperforms a ₹90K laptop replaced in 4 years (total: ₹90K with no proportional value). The future-proofing premium is real money paid for hypothetical use cases.