I think you're right, bet this is a big part of it for some people. They see the $120 Home Depot specials, but yours is a Stihl! It must be double that price! Just no concept that $1600 chainsaws exist. There are also plenty of people who are perfectly aware of what it costs, will happily **** up someone else's saw, return it broke, and not care.
Seriously, when Home Depot rents saws, and Amazon sells them for $150, that's a lot of hassle and hard feelings avoided for very little $$$. I wouldn't even consider loaning a saw.