b_b is neglecting the fact that Tesla's customers have already let him do this to them twice. It's become SOP. Expecting the market to take a shit now when Tesla survived then is sour grapes.
The difference, I think, is you suspect Tesla might actually try and sell a commuter car in the next five years. I think the mars colony is more likely. I mean, yeah... theoretically you can buy a Model S for $72k or whatever. Nobody does, though. The ones you see 'round here are loaded up with 30-40k in options so that they can compare and contrast with their buddies in the Porsche Panameras. The Model X is going to cost more than the S. Meanwhile you can lease an electric Fiat around here for $80 a month, which is less than you pay in interest on your Tesla. Musk's downmarket play is SpaceX. He's doing it by imitating the Soviet design bureau. Tesla is every bit the bespoke coachbuilder Duesenberg was. And yeah - Cords were cheaper, but they sure weren't cheap.