You may have heard that Steve Jobs and Apple have discounted the iPhone by $200 yesterday for a multitude of reasons. This move had Wall Street steamed, but it also had some of the faithful feeling … oh, I don’t know — like they were shanked with a sharpened Newton or something. Perhaps it has to do something with being played like iChimps for dancing like monkeys to Steve Jobs siren song.

I understand that technology drops in price. I think its a given these days that technology is somewhat disposable that way. I get it. Most people do. But the question here isn’t one of principle. Its one of scale. How fast things are changing. A slippery slope.

I mean, does it bother me that the rear projection high definition 42″ television that I bought 4 years ago can now be had for less than 1/3 of the price? Of course. But it doesn’t really get me *angry* because its a slow process that happened over a few years time.

But a 33% drop in 66 days?

Come on, man!

That’s approaching new levels of absurdity! Unless, of course, its a tell on behalf of Steve Jobs that he’s not happy with how fast his Jesus phones are moving (or, perhaps not), and not reaching the supposed 3 million units sold in a year.

Maybe.

At any rate, I think the price drop is significant for all kinds of reasons, not the least of which is that it sets a precedent. A happy precedent for some (the later adopters), and an unhappy for others (extra early adopters). I mean, if this kind of ridiculousness is par for the course, what else can we expect in the future?

$500 drops on the next iMac 6 months after its released? $750 rebates off the next Macbook 3 months after its launched?

Or should we only expect it if sales aren’t quite hitting their targets?

Some people, such as Robert Scoble, don’t really mind that they paid a $200 premium for the geekish privilege of having such a Sacred Object. Which is fine. I think companies like Apple need *more* fans like him, and not less, when Apple pulls stunts like these.  I mean, you have to be “ok” with things even when Apple treats you, its early adopters, and its business partners like chumps.

I mean if it*wasn’t* about the bottom line? Steve Jobs wouldn’t be issuing $100 credits, but full $200 ones.