I have to agree looking back 80's and 90's PC really did seem massively over priced when compared to the home computers like Amiga, Atari. I think one thing people forget is that most PC came with very costly CRT Monitors, and Microsoft Software (windows & office) where as Amiga you could just use the telly and software was a lot cheaper on the Amiga. But still they where over priced.
I think today it is very different and I have to agree again with the fact that building your own PC vs buy a Supermarket or low brand PC its very hard to beat the price, even with OEM equipment (well at least here in the uk) specially when you add the Microsoft Tax. Plus when you factor in the fact that if anything goes wrong with your tech its pull out the part send it back, and fix all the software problems you self where as if you bought it from a supermarket they just give you a full replacement. But it is still fun to build your own PC and you usually end up with higher quality parts than what would be in them cheap PC.
