I would say in some ways --yes it is. Some of the increase is due to RTR and the demand for more accuracy in locomotives( ever cost out how much it costs to prototype the model before putting out a line?). But I'm also wondering about the old saw--prices go up to what the market can bear.
I just readjust my budgets--besides, I'm at the point that I might be able to get away from locos--seem to have a supply falling out'n the woodwork lately---heeheehee
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Model railroading is an expensive hobby, there are so many facets involved. All hobbies are expensive. Once You get setup though, I don't think it is as expensive as other hobbies as You are at home or at the club if You're into that. I saw some old hotrod mags that I found last summer & I was astounded by the price increase of a simple Holley carb. & other items in the ads, Wow ! This is why I don't build cars anymore .I think the RTR mindset may have contributed to the increase in prices. You will have to admit the products We can purchase today are as a rule far superior to what was avail. in the early 70's. I agree things have gotten very expensive, so You have to decide what You need or want the most. Usually I buy things that I want & not always what I need for the layout, this isn't the best approach, but I'm guilty.
Is it just me or what? (I'm looking for some old-timer perspective here...)
The cost of this hobby just seems astronomically staggering !
It just seems like every single manufacturer is out to put their kids through college on a single hopper car or bag of ground foam.
I'm not complaining that things cost money, people gotta eat-- but it seems pretty ridiculous. And it hasn't always been this way. For example, sometimes when I buy stuff from that big online yard sale place, it'll show up with the original price tags still on the box. For example, I just got through buying a bunch of Shinohara turnouts recently. #6's LH&HR, among others, new old stock... I thought I was getting a deal at $12 bucks each. I see them advertised elsewhere online for $20+ and up. So they get here and I was looking through them and then notice the _original_ price... $1.29, from a _DRUG STORE_ no less !
I understand a lot of things about buying and selling, particularly that things are worth whatever people will pay for them. So I know that's the real answer here-- people have bucks to spend and are willing to spend them even at these prices.
I'm just saying.
(Can I get an amen :)