The AVP failed on price, yes, but also the limitations of the software (and lack of content, which I think go hand-in-hand).

The AVP was just an iPad that you strapped to your face. Yes, it had apps, but they could only do more-or-less the same things an iPad app could (in 3D, sure).

That's why I returned mine, it was way too limiting of a platform for the cost. This, while cheaper, is even more limited (no apps).

> Every human on earth was cynical about that thing

You should go and reread the HN thread then. There were people ripping the "Nomad" quote and insisting that it was the next big thing: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36201593

Some excerpts from top comments:

  But it's going to be a hit. HN is going to be swamped with "How I used Vision Pro to..." posts when it comes out.

  It would very obviously be useful for work if you can actually get high res, effectively unlimited monitor space.

  [...] considering it is a phone, laptop and massive display bundled into I'm pretty sure there's a more than sustainable market for it.

  It’s come in at $3499 and if it performs as good as those videos make out then, if anything, it’s a bargain.

Suffice it to say, there are people that will just say whatever is satisfying to them regardless of how good the product actually is. Maybe a better example is the HomePod, which died an agonizing death despite the people who were certain that the smart home was Apple's final frontier.