None of us are missing the point. You are talking about the opportunity to get into a similar vehicle as ours, although its only similar in certain aspects, that is significantly more money. The thing is, once you start playing the game of, spend a little more for a little better in this aspect, or that aspect, you can keep doing that until you are up to a $200K car.
The other side to this, and I see it on every car specific forum I have been a part of, is you are on a forum for A SPECIFIC CAR!!! Why come on to a forum of owners of a specific car and start spewing crap about how there are potentially better cars out there? I don't think anyone on here doesn't realize that an Audi is going to be nicer, but is that cost increase worth it? To me, the answer is no. To some the question is, can I afford that difference, and the answer is no.
I would love to have an Audi RS7 or an S8, but number one, that would stretch my budget. I could afford it, but I don't want to spend that much on a car. Number two is its not worth it to me.
But to answer your original question, yes, I test drove an A4, and I wasn't impressed enough to spend that much money on something I saw as being marginally better, between the up front cost and cost of maintenance, it sure as **** wasn't worth it to me. If I could get one that long term would cost the same as my fusion sport, then maybe I would have thought about it, but I know all to well what kind of nightmares the German's maintenance costs can be. And if I am going to spend that kind of money, there would be other options for me. But again, this is all my opinion, and others can agree with me or disagree with me, I don't give a **** either way. That's the best part about the car culture, there are so many choices out there.