Never has and never will. More $$ doesn't (necc) mean better.
And I think I read in an earlier link that the iPad mini came to about $188 per unit. So it's possible it costs less than the Nexus 7 in "parts"
But as they say - parts is parts. Some choose to use more expensive casing, others more expensive screen, etc. Which is why that ultimately - people should buy the device that they want and will use and be happy there are choices in the marketplace to do so.
correct. however, its a simple mistake most people make when they say "it only costs XXX in parts to make!!!"
parts is only portion of the expense that is part of a product. there are signficant other expenses that are associated with any product in the terms' of "cost centres" that have to be attributed in the costing of any device.
For example: while the hardware costs maybe only $188 for the ipad. There are R&D costs that are associated with it to get to the point that you have parts together into a product. You have accounting overhead cause well, everyone needs an accountant! you have payrolls and rents and leases. There are probably hundreds, if not thousands of line items of purely "overhead" costs that all go towards the costs of any product on the market. These need to always be included in the "cost" of production of an item IMHO.
thats why I used the reverse way to come to the "cost". we know what the retail value is 329. We know that Apple themselves are making anywhere from 37-43% profit (Revenue - Expenses) on their devices. The variable rate there is because if apple sells direct, they make a bigger margin than if they sell through a 3rd party store (who wants their cut on top).
so using a loose accounting method to determine cost to make an ipad, its probably safe to assume that on the high side, the ipad mini is costing apple $220-$240 range (for everything i mentioned above).
if the Nexus 7 is being sold "at cost", with virtually zero profit worked into it. then the actual costs to produce it are roughly the same.
All i'm saying is that end retail price of a product is by no means a guaranteed indication on how "cheap" something is or the actual quality of said devices.
it is a mistake that MOST people in here have made constantly. especially in the N7 v iPad mini debate. we can go back in this thread alone and probably find a dozen "iPad sells for so much more cause it's a higher quality device". that statement is inherently wrong. While it might be a "higher quality device" (which i'm not claiming, just not takign a stance on). the end user price is not a factor in actually determining that.
Apple sells the iPad mini for 329 so they can put $90 in their pockets off the sale. That's the reason for the price difference. Now, whether or not people believe it is worth doing so to get an iPad mini is also a completely different argument entirely. is the "ecosystem" worth paying an extra $90 to buy into? is the goodwill of the company convincing enough that you are willing to give apple that profit? these are all completely personal decisions. Everyone will have their own reasons for their choices. Maybe budgetary, maybe social, maybe even "sheepish". But they are entitled to that
...for thirty five dollars you can't really go wrong getting it but if you're expecting it to be revolutionary, you'll be disappointed. It's a dongle. Like the guy who said "this will change the living room as we know it" 
