I'm guessing that it has a lot to do with much smaller batches, probably a tiny fraction of what they were making when they had WM support. That can make the price go up a bunch, no question. And materials and labor and shipping. All that has gone up too.
BUT none of that all together makes prices go up 4x. I don't begrudge a company making a profit, that's why they do the work. Otherwise, why not just go fishing? But I fear that it's more a recognition that the small fanbase they have is pretty hardcore, and that a big chunk of them will buy at grossly inflated prices. Ebay has taught us all that there is a decent number of people willing to shell out ridiculous money for these. So the companies are trying to cherry-pick those buyers.
Bottom line, those of us that are interested in the products at 2005 wal-mart prices are not in the target audience for these. It might make lots of those people mad, but you aren't the customer they are looking for. Neither am I, b/c I'm not paying $200 for a Huey. But such is life and business.
