Sorry,but thses types of justifications for high prices are bogus.
You cannot ignore all the other factors like price and availabilty of competing systems and new developments.Or higher taxes and fuel costs.
I 've seen the same misuse of logic directed at ham radio operator regarding radio prices.
It is stunningly irrelevant what any item cost twenty years or days ago if there is a new alternative that takes its place and costs less or is more convenient.
