I will agree that you have a point , but ..
Lets see the all story in detail ..
1)The Manfrotto 190D is one tripod that the weigh of it is 3 kilos with the head , and it is the smallest of the ones that they called as sturdy , so the 3 kilos is the price that some one have to carry ,for having one sturdy tripod ..
2)Is your tripod mobile ?? I do believe that 3 kilos is not that great load , you can easily carry it around for long distances if you use the right ways , straps or bag .. and its also very easy to carry it on your motorcycle too ..
3)There are and more heavier tripods in the Manfrotto line , and this ones it is really hard to move them around , so the most people that they use them they have a car .
4)Do you need the tripod , or you think that you do ..?? I am not a kid , I do like to have with me something reliable that it will not disappoint me , even at the most difficult situations , I do feel like the soldier with his weapon , if the weapon is good , you do not mind carrying it .
I do understand that in this forums they are many deferent types of people , but we all have something in common , we have pay one small fortune to get one digital camera , that they are more sensitive and fragile than any SLR ..
By my skeptic, I will always do the best that I can do to protect it , at any cost .
I have say even more than what the questions was, but what counts for me above all ,is the sturdy and secure tripod ..
