Not looking to continue a smoldering discussion of disagreements. That S2 Premium Service Package seems way out of line. The replacement shutter part is really the bigger joke in my mind, at least for a pro-level camera. I have had several Canon 1-series cameras where the shutter gave out at 200K or so actuations.
That is very nice of Canon, but if a shutter goes beyond the stated number of actuations, I wouldn't normally expect the manufacturer to replace it for free. The S2's shutter is rated at 150000. For a pro with a high rate of shooting, this could be worth it. Leica shutters do not cost a couple of hundred dollars, btw, as I found out the hard way when my M8 shutter went south. I was able to salvage the situation by doing the upgrade, which I wanted to do anyway.
As for the "Made in Germany" part to defend the costs.....sorry, that is becoming a tired and misplaced sentiment. There are plenty of places other than Germany that are turning out very high quality stuff with equally high quality parts, and for less cost.
Sorry, and I don't mean this disrespectfully, but it is neither tired nor misplaced. There are two issues. First of all, Leica does work that no other company can do, possibly except Zeiss (also in Germany). At least, no other company does it. Secondly, protecting the local jobs is a strong move from Leica, and IMO, forward-looking. You see it already happening in the States, where price drives manufacturing to such an extent that the production is moving overseas, and even the ability to manufacture locally starts to disappear. The price will not stay low overseas forever, but once the manufacturing expertise disappears locally, it may not return. Look where the American camera industry is today. Are you happy about that? The relentless push for lower prices made that happen.
Now, I am not German, I just live here, but I do understand this type of decision, and I wish it would be made more often. I hate to see so much of the world's goods being manufactured in countries which do not protect the workers well, and which don't control the damage to the environment, like Germany does. I am perfectly willing to pay more, sometimes much more, to buy products from countries whose track-record I respect, but the choice is more and more just not there. I am astounded to see how much of what I buy is made in China, a country whose politics and economy I absolutely do not condone.
Leica cameras and lenses are made in Europe. Some parts are done in Portugal, where the labour is significantly cheaper than in Germany, but other parts need to be made in Germany, where the standards are very high, and the expertise is still present.
Think of it another way: a significant proportions of the best cameras and lenses ever made, throughout history, were designed and made in Germany. Do you really think this would ever have happened if only the designs were made here, and the manufacturing went to the cheapest bidder?
Anyway, this is getting off-topic.