Well first of all it is only expensive if you consider it expensive. nt300, your PC easily cost more than an iPad if bought retail when they were the newest parts, same can be said for nvidiaintelftw. The average price of a laptop easily tops $500, and most 10 inch tablets are $400-$500 when featuring a quality screen, dual core chip, decent graphics, and other desirable specs. So it's not as if Apple is picking numbers out of a Scrabble bag, if Asus thinks the Transformer Prime is only worth $300, or Samsung thinks the Galaxy Tab should only be $200, then why are they both selling them dollar for dollar at the exact same price as the iPad? There is no $399 Transformer Prime, the new model starts at $499 just like the iPad. Only now Apple sells the iPad 2 at $399.
But the real deal breaker is the knowledge that Asus has already made it clear that they ARE releasing a new Transformer Prime Infinity version that uses a better screen to compete directly with the iPad 3. They are going to be pushing 1920x1200 as the resolution on the new unit, and prices are expected to jump upward another $100, maybe more.
So if you think the iPad is too expensive, well then you'll hate that the BEST competition for it and arguably the only tablet on the market that would compete head to head, will be starting at $599-$699 for the WIFI versions, $100 more than the iPad prices.
Tablets are not useless, Android or iOS. They are not toys and they are not overpriced, but at the same time they are not for everyone. If you're not willing to take the plunge and try one then its not really fair to judge them. It's one thing to pick one up in best buy and say "Well this is shit" but it's something else entirely to use one every day for business, entertainment, and content creation and realize how much better things are using a tablet device than they were using a laptop. These are not toys, stop pretending otherwise just because you don't understand or dislike them - what ever the case may be.