How did Hermes bags become so widely revered when they are so difficult to use?

[nationalsalt]

Notwithstanding their impeccable quality, I'm curious how the Birkin, Kelly, Lindy etc. gained so much popularity considering how difficult they are to open and close (if you actually do complete all the possible steps each time).

Going back historically, how did Hermes manage to woo their original patrons / celebrity clientele with these designs in order to imbue them with so much prestige that they now stand head and shoulders above the rest in terms of price and mythology?

Have Hermes always had such an aura of exclusivity that customers would happily overlook unnecessary complexity in order to carry their bags? Or do their wealthy clients simply not care about practicality that much?

 

[tigerrouge]

On the point of practicality, you may find that some people don't consider Hermès bags to be too much of a faff in comparison to what else is out there e.g. a Birkin isn't going to maul your hand with a zip every time you put your hand through the opening.

There are plenty of designer bags on sale for silly money, which are far worse when it comes to accessibility / ease of use - how do the companies convince anyone to buy those?

 

[likeahurricane]

What's difficult to use about those bags? It's just a turn lock?