Holy crap..
Only on ATOT will you people who will bash someone who bought a Hybrid vehicle of their own free will, with an eye towards saving money on fuel, because:
i) "You'll never recover the inital investment (General sentiment, not a direct quote)" - Really? And non-hybrid cars are appreciating assets?
ii) "I'm sure your car is a complete bore to drive while you're getting that 90 mpg" - Excellent.. So, someone who might not have a desire for a sports/muscle car is derided and ridiculed for purchasing something that fits their current needs, and will save them a bit of money in the long run?
iii) "don't forget the battery replacement cost, which is $$$$$$$ say bye bye to gas savings!!" - To be sure, replacing the battery might be an expensive option, but it's no worse then having to replace a transmission, motor or any other major part of a "standard, non-ghey (read, American Domestic)" vehicle
iv) And if you are making so little money that you have to buy a hybrid to be able to afford your friends and family you need to take on second job" - Funny, most anti-hyb's on ATOT generally complain about the premium on Hybrid, or alternative fuel, vehicles.
v) What about the greater cost of repairs and breakdowns for an untested technology? Cost of battery replacement?" - I'm sure Toyota didn't pull the Prius out of their ass, plunk it down on the road, and start selling them. The battery packs are covered for 8 years by Toyota (96 mths, or 160K KMs in Canada for reference), which is more then almost all other manufacturers offer, while the rest of the vehicle's standard components are covered for a minimum of 36 mths or 60K KM (again, in Canada)