Are we being ripped off or does it happen elsewhere?

I recently bought a Nissan Juke, and mt previous car wasa Ford Fiesta, neither of these cars had a spare wheel, just an inflation kit, I did buy a spare for both cars but it just seems penny pinching in the extreme, these were UK cars

Added (1). Sorry about the typos, always happens when I type fast

The reason for the inflation kit is threefold.
First save money.
Second it reduces the weight so improves economy.
Third it takes less luggage space.
Most drivers get a breakdown service out anyway as they can't change a wheel. Flat tyres are not very common so it is a saving.
The breakdown services have a universal loan wheel they fit. You drop it off at the tyre dealer when you get the tyre fixed or replaced.

Spares were once a standard feature, now they're not.

The Hyundai Elantra GT has a spare tire, but the standard Elantra doesn't. I'm not sure how Hyundai made that decision.

My daughter recently bought a Versa which also doesn't have a spare. I need to do something about that.

Like you, my family is not afraid to change a flat, so i find the new practice pretty annoying.

Technically, you are not paying for a spare when you buy the car, so the manufacturer does not feel that you're being "ripped off".

Spare tires are no longer standard equipment. It is a rip off considering how new car prices are going up.

Car makers are leaving the spare tire out for weight reduction and it's effect on mpg. I feel it cheats. I don't even like donut spares, but they're better than a can of goop and propane. It's not just a UK thing since the companies doing the cheap trick are international.

Cost me $143 for a new full size rim and new tire from my local tire shop, a jack and wrench from Walmart.

Dealer would have charged $287 for donut spare jack and wrench.

Penny pinching is part of it, but also the having the extra weight out of the trunk gives them 1/2 to 1 extra MPG when they test them for fuel mileage

You aren't the only one.