Thomas Woods

It is not rise in production cost. Check out global inflation facts, most countries have problems pushing inflation up. Think about the easing of monetary policies world wide in the past decade. Its not because of 3rd parties, if anything these will push prices down due to competition. Its simply because the producers know there are increasingly people who will pay that price. GREED. I am very sure I paid less than USD 200 (more like 150) for MP1 in mid 2000s, in retail shop. Same plastics, same products. Basically same designs and technology. And today USD 500 for an optimus prime figure? WTF. The Transformers industry has grown tremendously since the first MP optimus prime, first with Takara MPs and then 3rd party etc. Producers simply exploit people's desires. This MP 44 maybe sort of turning point. One chinese producer coming up with a god ginrai that will cost near USD 1000 all up. If you want to make them rich at your own expense by all means. I hope fans say no thanks. Love the robots, the memories, but not the exploitation, thanks very much.