I don't want to sound like an asshole, but...
[...] I look it at this way. Why is anyone buying miners given the current BTC price knowing full well there is no return likely on these units even if you have lower power costs? [...]
Further to this there is no way an individual buying a few miners is going to compete with the farms not unless there is a rethink about pooling resources and the very nature of a "home" unit. At this point there is no reasonable argument for buying small miners with limited power availability. It was a bad investment at 369$ or even lower.
That's not entirely true. There are some countries where at this current price mining is still VERY profitable. Mainly, countries where the main power source is of the renewable kind and prices of energy are VERY low compared to other sources (i.e. coal, oil, etc).
Not for small miners.
Even with low electricity the shipping and cost of the units really doesn't make any sense.
If you have the numbers show them here I am willing to accept evidence to contrary. Where is there are miner today who can purchase a $369 Antminer S5 with all the accessories, shipping, taxes etc that can ROI. Love to see those numbers. The only real way you are going to make something is to go larger and get economies of scale in terms of miner unit price and bulk electricity. Even those mines are shutting down less efficient units and selling them off to make money.
Otherwise you are best to buy BTC straight and hold that for better returns or possibly as other have mentioned and what I do is mine an Altcoin in the hopes it eventually rises. Either way it is a risk. Buying small lots of new miners in this market place makes little sense given the risks.
You have to count the resale value of the units. Most can be sold at a high price on eBay. Go look. People paying by PayPal will pay a premium to buy a used miner.