Buying something more valuable with something less valuable should never feel like a terrible deal. If it does, something is wrong.
It’s completely normal to feel terrible about being forced to choose only one of two things you value very highly. Human emotions don’t map onto utility comparisons in the way you’re suggesting.
True, it can always hurt. I note, however, that’s not quite the same thing as feeling like you made a terrible deal, and also that feeling pain at the loss of a treasured thing is not the same as feeling guilty about the choice.
Many deals in the real world have a lot of positive surplus. Most deals I would like to make have positive surplus. I would still make a deal to get something more valuable with something less valuable, but if the margins are very thin (or approaching zero), then I wouldn’t like the deal even as I make it. I can feel like it’s a terrible deal because the deals I want would have a lot more surplus to them, ideally involving a less painful cost.
It’s completely normal to feel terrible about being forced to choose only one of two things you value very highly. Human emotions don’t map onto utility comparisons in the way you’re suggesting.
True, it can always hurt. I note, however, that’s not quite the same thing as feeling like you made a terrible deal, and also that feeling pain at the loss of a treasured thing is not the same as feeling guilty about the choice.
Many deals in the real world have a lot of positive surplus. Most deals I would like to make have positive surplus. I would still make a deal to get something more valuable with something less valuable, but if the margins are very thin (or approaching zero), then I wouldn’t like the deal even as I make it. I can feel like it’s a terrible deal because the deals I want would have a lot more surplus to them, ideally involving a less painful cost.