Well, for the price of an iPad, you can get a high-end netbook. So, at some point, people have made the choice to get the iPad over the netbook, and cope with the disagreements.

I got a refurb Lenovo for the same price as an iPad. It isn't the most powerful laptop in the world, but its a lot beefier than an iPad.

to be fair, I can't be sure 100% of the time. However, in some smaller classes, I've witnessed some mid-semester changes in devices, which does suggest this attitude.

Considering the iPad's cost vs. capability in an academic setting (incompatible software comes to mind), I would say an iPad suggests it's an attitude or predisposition as opposed to being financially determined.