Agreed with Thomas Woods. They charge what people are willing to pay. You just have to look at Macross (aka Robotech). RRP for VF-31A is a around $200+ and pushed way over $500+. The VF-1 which had an RRP of $180 that pushed over $300+ 

Sometimes, I can't blame the manufacturer or retailers, after all there are so many willing to pay the ridiculous price.

Takara identified their market, made a quality product at a high-but-reasonable cost. We collectors got hooked with the goal of completing our G1 collections. To increase profits, they increased part counts to justify in our minds a huge price increase. Takara realized that the loss of any customers they alienated would be more than compensated by the increased price and new customers. This is very smart business planning.

I think the ones who voted other like myself, are implying greed.

I pre-ordered it because I collect all MPs and Optimus transforming figures, but that price is just greed. 

Though I will immediately cancel my Preorder if there is any type of issue with it.