So many feign to know what the "public" wants, but they could just as effectively divine everyone's favorite colors. The usage of "what the public wants" is interesting, I agree. The singular nature of public leads one to conclude that the thing wanted is also singular. This couldn't be further from the truth, especially with car preferences. The good doctor's utilitarian view is correct; appealing to large subsets of people may bring in the big bucks and sell cars. However, as with movies, it doesn't always work.

Funny thing about the cars we enjoy owning. My favorite is a 17-year-old little pickup truck with scratches and dents all over, no AC, seats that bleed lint and fluff, and a steering wheel that has been peeling for years. Many friends who own fancier trucks, for example, are jealous and wish they could beat theirs up and haul junk without fear. They sure don't sell new ones of those!