My theory is the price is simply hedging against UK inflation, but that does seem to be easing slowly now and pricing (niche) models highly is risky during an economic crisis. The Mexican Bean 104 is so obscure most people can happily do without and just not buy, or buy Accurascale 37’s or Mk2’s instead and get a lot more for your money, which also turned up on the West Highland Line year-round, season after season and with much greater frequency. From what I can see high-priced models aren’t doing so well if you look at various model railway retailers bargain bins, you see quite a few in there. Yes, there’s a minority with lots of cash, or those where a specific model is a centrepiece to a project so they may stump up to secure one straight away at the asking price, but if the price is too high most will leave it for the price to drop, at which point there’s always the risk of something more interesting and better value popping up and taking away that potential sale from the manufacturer.