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John, yes, there is a natural price for all goods and services - it is called market price. It is the price the market is willing to pay and the seller is willing to sell it for. It works for most products, but not for all - in both directions. If you´d throw all HO scale locos into one big basket, locos costing $ 500 - 600 would have a hard time to compete with Atlas Trainman locos or the regular Bachmann line. So you have to segment the market and create extra demand - by choosing landmark models, limited runs, extra features, like DCC&sound, super-detailing  - you name it. These things are just a tool to harvest seemingly better margins. Unfair? No, just normal practice, which finds its natural correction after a little while, when demand is slacking. It only turns to be unfair, when other issues than market economy mechanisms determine the price, be it taxes or be it state controlled exchange rates. Even if the hobby gets more expensive, it is much better than not having any supplies available. Would you believe that in the days of the Soviet Union, there was only one company producing model trains in all of the eastern block states? It was Piko in Eastern Germany.... So let´s enjoy the vast supply we have and also the chance to rant a little about pricing.
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