Leawood911:

Still digging out after the first significant snowfall of the year?

An electronic parking brake does not function when the vehicle is at speed under normal operating conditions, i.e., no hydraulic brake failure.  It serves to function as a parking brake and a hill hold.  

Don't confuse cost engineering with expense reduction.  The 911 has significantly more higher strength steels and aluminium content than the predecessor vehicles; therefore, the material costs are greater, in addition to greater processing costs.