[fizzled]

> Are all the uber-expensive office chairs just snake oil? Or have I just been lucky?

Depends on your physiology.

I've been sitting at a computer desk for close to 40 years. In my late 30's early 40's I started to suffer from several degenerated disks, and really, all my life I've had upper and lower back issues. In most of my jobs, I usually had those big puffy office chairs with a few knobs. Those kinda helped, but it wasn't until I switched to an Aeron 7 years ago and it was a game changer: the webbing is more comfortable than cheap foam cushions and the seat tilt adjust fits just right. It is is the most comfortable seat in my house (I can't slouch on couches anymore :( ... ).

So for me, yes. It made a huge difference. But if you've got a spine like a cat, probably no biggie.

(Although: I have the Aeron model with cables, which was redesigned from the original one with linkages, and the first one broke the day I received it: they couldn't walk me through the repair because the cables required a special tool so they delivered a new one.)