Because the 990 is roughly $1000, that's how this got started.

In any case, I think the distinction was between the every-day off-the-shelf mass produced consumer machines, and something a little better (and more expensive).

That was as opposed to the distinction among high-end gear, where the argument is that once you cross the threshold of PRETTY GOOD EQUIPMENT, you're not going to hear the difference between models, despite a super high price.