I think that you might notice that the need for speed is more prevalent amongst the young. There is also a correlation between complainers and those that live where the roads do not bend. Notice also that many of complainers have never put their car onto a track other than a drag strip. Here in Chicago we have to drive over 100 miles to find some interesting twisty roads. So many do not get to use the car on the kinds of roads for which it was intended and on which it accells. For some that leaves just straight line accelleration as a means of judging a cars merit. Unfortuately this straight line accelleration can be seen as a test of manhood for the imature.

You are right that 140 should be fast enough for most. The main complaint from the land of square and flat is how long it takes to reach 140.