Well I don't know what it is that you do that you have $18k just laying around to slap down in cash, but I guess good for you. I will have to stick with my $100 ZTE phone this year and not participate at all for the first time since the 3G. Maybe I will watch on here while the pre-ordering is going on to feel like I'm participating.
I by no means would be considered "rich", especially by friends/family members/colleagues lol, but I have been taught from a young age to always have a minimum of 6 months expenses "laying around". The funny thing is, that philosophy is almost a Trojan horse for saving, because if you get used to not spending every penny of your paycheck and instead force yourself to build up the emergency fund first, it really gets easier to save from there (and much less stressful too..). Now I have an emergency fund (which in my opinion everyone should have first, before even an iPhone...) and I also have savings that I can invest as I see fit. But hey, I know there are people who will claim they "can't", and okie dokie to that. I disagree that anyone that has even an iPhone 7/8 "couldn't" also have a few thousand in savings, but I also believe in the freedom to blow your money however you want (just don't lie and say you "can't" save... you could, you just choose not to).
Truly though, do I believe someone with extra money for booze, cigarettes, and an iPhone 8, "can't" save money each month so they could have some "laying around" for emergencies/opportunities? Nope. But that's
their choice, and it's one less scalper I have to deal with lowering prices on launch day so it's really fine by me.
The biggest advantage to having money "laying around" is that when opportunities like the X come along (that have zero risk and tons of upside), I can take full advantage. Even if I couldn't afford 12 (I'd like more, but I'd be thrilled with 12 on 11/3), I'd buy 1, or 2, or whatever I could. The "rich" get "richer".
And if for some reason you don't/can't make a profit (unlikely), return them. Net zero. Really not a concern here though...