Which was to make Arthur Jones rich.
One of the most common criticisms of Jones was that he made money developing and selling his Nautilus. Why is that? As if people spending money, even a lot of money, on a good or service is somehow a bad thing. That you are greedy for wanting to profit, even profit greatly, from something you produce and developed.
Profit, making a lot of money on a good and/or service is the one of the best indication of it's value to society and increasing the quality of life for it's people. Making a profit is proof positive that you are providing something people want and are willing to pay for giving them a better quality of life.
And it seems there is a fundamental misunderstanding better "Cost" the amount it takes to bring that product to market and keep the supplies available, and the "Price", what you charge the customer. That if the price of a product should absolutely determine the cost. If it's cheap to make it should be cheap to sell. That you shouldn't "over charger" for a product. It doesn't work that way not should it. If something cost 10 cents to make but sells for $100 does that mean you are greedy? If I offer you 200 grand for you car just because I want to should you stop me and say, "No that's too much. Give me 15 grand instead." That 10 cent product gets $100 because that's what people want to pay. And if you charge less, not only would that be foolish on your part, but would create a shortage
because you would be selling your product for below market price.
Jones was a genius. Many simply lack the insight as to how much he advanced resistance training and all the equipment you see today in modern gyms has its roots in Nautilus and Arthur Jones. This notion was that he didn't believe in his equipment and training principles and was simply good at marketing and promoting himself is just absurd beyond belief. You can fool some people some of the time but when it comes to spending their own money they will eventually catch on. Is Jones still fooling all these people with his equipment and equipment inspired by him long after his death? Was he really that great in promoting himself when most people don't even know who he is and have never heard of him?
I constantly ask trainers, even those in my age group, if they have ever heard of Jones. I really can't remember a single person who ever have. Those from my generation remember Nautilus coming on the scene in the 70s-80s but they never heard of Jones, a very difficult person to get along with.
So much for being a great self-promoter.