The same configuration but very different price

Yes of coure. There is another factor that may affect the price as you said. :)

It's all about branding. Like those Nike tennis that costs around $200 dollars and yet are the same materials of the tennis that costs $20 dollars. In the past prices used to mean quality, but right now its all about the hype. Computers can function for years before breaking down (if you ignore the hype to have the latest) no matter the brand and in tennis the cheap ones last for decades, sometimes far more than brand ones. But when you buy expensive crap with a brand you can show it off, not because its good or better, but because it was expensive. And people like to show off, so brands can get away with anything :p.