I've thought about this while waiting in line for my coffee too. Here is what I came up with :

1)
Not everyone enjoys the taste of plain coffee.

2)
Not only are those expensive mega calorie drinks tasty but they're "fun to drink".

3)
In-store marketing ensures that these higher profit drinks are in front of the consumer for consideration.

4)
I can't verify this across the entire chain but in each of the 3 Starbucks that I frequent, the (all 3 are girls, if there was a guy, I'd say it) the girl in charge of making these drinks at my local starbucks is attractive and always talks to me nicely. This makes me want to order complicated (and more expensive drinks) because I get a bit of conversation tossed in as well.
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I can't find any plausble evidence that there are *any* 800 calorie drinks at Starbucks. There are a few that are surprisingly high (aroung 500 calories), but most of their offerings seem much more in line with what you'd expect from a hot drink.

If people drink those exceptionally high calorie drinks,. my guess is they don't realise how many more calories they have compared to other drinks, or maybe they love them, and it's a treat like dessert.

http://www.shapefit.com/starbucks.html

http://www.starbucks.com/retail/nutrition_beverages.asp
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Besides the addiction to caffeine?

I go to Starbucks because I can get a special drink that I enjoy (my favorites: Mocha or Chai). I can't easily get those at home.

I don't think people go out with the number of calories or the unhealth in mind. It's called "Fast Food" for a reason... Fast does not mean healthy...
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Starbucks is more than just coffee, it's a destination. Starbuck's marketing has made the brand ubiquitous and prestigious - two key strategies for brand adoption.

Going to a coffeehouse is a tradition that dates back almost 600 years. Edwyn Lloyd's coffee house, which he set up in 1668, was such a popular hub for business in London that it still survives today as the Lloyd's of London Insurance Company.

http://www.timminspress.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1551044

When the office is a coffee shop, it's a different buzz

http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20090502/ARTICLES/904309937/1008?Title=When-the-office-is-a-coffee-shop-it-s-a-different-buzz

"Caffeine is a psychotropic drug," said Dr. Aurora Torres, an assistant professor in the department of psychology at UAH. Caffeine does cause physical dependencies, producing withdrawal symptoms of headaches, nausea, and drowsiness.

http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=10268219&nav=0hBE
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Because the things taste great and they're only unhealthy, like most things, if not enjoyed in moderation.
Source(s):
healthy intuition
http://jugglingapples.com

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I think unhealthy blended/dessert-style coffee drinkers fall into a few basic categories:

(1) People who think of these drinks as a "treat," not a drink like coffee that you would plausibly enjoy daily. My parents will get an iced blended mocha on something like 1 out of every 20 trips to Coffee Bean.

(2) Unwise consumers think that, because a drink is based around "coffee" rather than a traditionally fattening dessert like ice cream that the final product is somehow healthier. This is the same concept behind Jamba Juice. You can put frozen yogurt and milk and peanut butter (!) and sugary fruit juice blends in there, but because there's also some strawberries tossed in, it's considered "healthy."

(3) People who don't care about nutrition or caloric intake. This question assumes everyone would make a more health-conscious decision if they had all the information. This is patently false. A lot of people just eat what they want and don't consider the consequences.
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I think it's because being seen at Starbucks, or just being there, makes them feel ok, like they're sitting at the table with the jocks and cheerleaders instead of with the nerds. Just plunk down $5 and you're instantly cool. It's really a marketing thing. No one gets that feeling from carrying around a Quickie Mart cup. It has no cachet. And unless you're lucky enough to have a Starbucks with one of the new $20K coffee makers, it's really not that good.

And I also think that mentally, we're convinced it's somehow "healthier" than an ice cream shake would be. I mean, it's coffee! Coffee has no calories, right?

I make my own homemade version of those frozen drinks every morning, using excellent coffee beans from Trader Joe's, made in an Aeropress (which is essentially the guts of those $20K Starbucks machines, but for $30), unsweetened almond milk, a *little* cream, ice, stevia, eggs (because it's breakfast) sometimes frozen wheat grass cubes, and one of about 30 flavorings I have. It's much better and much healthier than the Starbucks fraps, with more variety. I've also used green tea and various herbal teas, to expand my morning selection to about 45 choices. Lately I've been doing pistachio creme.

And it costs me a bare fraction of what Starbucks would. I found a really cool travel mug from Zena's Gypsy Tea that I love. That gives me better cachet than a Stop n' Go cup would.

http://www.clarkcreativedesign.com/images/clients/Zhenas-Gypsy-Tea/zhena_promotional1.jpg
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