Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why do you get so defensive? What in “is no more than just another faster, smaller, and costlier“ is not accurate?
It’s not accurate because there is more, the front facing sensor array to make faceid possible is completely new, the OLED display is completely new.
As for FaceID, I am not convinced yet. I would be more impressed with an under the screen fingerprint sensor.
But I guess I will try it in a couple of weeks, when I get mine, and form a better opinion.
IMHO component costs are not the reason Apple increased the price; they increased it because they could.