One thing that I'm really starting to hate about the show is that the writers seem to have a little too much fun with exaggerating Rarity's character for comedic purposes. 

 

The scene you mentioned is a great example, but there's also her shiny dresses thing from It Ain't Easy Being Breezies, and her ridiculous-looking hat from Maud Pie. They're not "out-of-character" for her per se, but they are ridiculous exaggerations of her character. 

 

I mean, come on, it's really not that funny. 

On one hand, I love having Applejack's overzealous practicality be used for comedic effect, but on the other hand, I agree that it wasn't really done well here.

 

Maybe you could've had AJ constantly turning down useful objects because she could "save her money on somethin' else" contrasting to Rarity wanting to buy something that she essentially already owned.

 

"What about that gorgeous ceramic spoon rest?"

 

"Already own one."

 

"The wrought iron clock?"

 

"Why would I waste all my hard-earned money on a fancy clock?"

 

"Grr..."

 

"Look, I jus' came to see the place. Well, I don't want anythin', clearly ya want a brooch or somethin', why don't you go back to the stand and get what you need and we can head out of here?"

 

"You really don't grasp the point of these." 

Ooby's the man to make everything hilarious.

 

Flandumbization* is getting old.

 

*it means flanderization in a way that decreases intelligence

The way it was done made it feel kind of forced like they tried too hard to have a conflict for its own sake. It would have been a bit more believable if the argument was because Rarity wanted to buy the thing that she wanted but Applejack thought it was ridiculous because she has a million of them that look exactly the same and the lesson there could have been that sometimes people or ponies in this case may have certain interests you may not completely understand but to try to keep an open mind. Rarity also seemed a bit confused as to why Applejack would want a rusty pie tin so you already have that established.

Are you, per chance, forgetting that besides being practical, she is also still a country pony?

If there's one thing I know for certain, it's that country women honestly do like cooking ware like pots and pans and such.  But, for the sake of playing devil's advocate to my own self here, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt in having an issue with the fact that it had to be a rusty old pan.  But even if I gave you that, I still laugh at it because it pokes fun at country folk.  I like a good-natured joke aimed at us once in a while.  And because it does hold at least a bit of merit, it isn't a bad joke.  

Now, as for the bickering on a whole...

If you've got a problem with running gags in themselves, then hey man, whatever floats your boat.  But I'm just saying, it's canon, and I was rollin' in laughter to see AJ and Rarity bickering again in Trade Ya!  They are great friends with opposing lifestyles.  It's just how the cookie crumbles.  At the end of the day, they bought each other gifts and made up.  

Friendship is magic, y'know.  

~ Miles

Are you, per chance, forgetting that besides being practical, she is also still a country pony?

 

She may be a country pony, but good humor shouldn't have to come at the expense of characterization. The joke makes AJ look out of character.

She may be a country pony, but good humor shouldn't have to come at the expense of characterization. The joke makes AJ look out of character.

 

I'll play fair here, I promise.

 

So, how exactly does it seem out of character?  Assume I am naive to the reason.

 

Possibly because you don't think she would normally own "junk" like that?

 

Or is it the mildly obsessive urge itself to buy it, no matter the item so much, that you feel goes against AJ's grain?

 

Maybe a different aspect?  

 

(And again, I really do want to know the rationale).

 

 

So, how exactly does it seem out of character? Assume I am naive to the reason.

 

Possibly because you don't think she would normally own "junk" like that?

 

Or is it the mildly obsessive urge itself to buy it, no matter the item so much, that you feel goes against AJ's grain?

 

Maybe a different aspect? 

Actually, all of the above and then some. The idea that AJ wants to trade so much over a superficial pie pan is one part of the problem. It's also the way both she and Rarity behaved. They've grown beyond this source of pettiness over each other. The way both AJ and Rarity acted, it's as if they couldn't stand each other. The expository dialogue and lack of logic why make them sound not like successful business owners, but preschool kids instead.