I do understand what the OP is saying.

The health of the hobby seems good, but the influx of new blood could be temporary and in the moment seems to have driven prices to an all new level. Yes, it does allow for many to trade up by selling your older collection, but eventually you will be priced out of the hobby.

The increase over the past 2 years has been crazy! The idea that an avid hobbyist that has been collecting for decades, decides to want to breakdown and buy their first NIB has to pay a 4-5k premium is a joke!

It's a race to the top as far as the major manufacturers are concerned. They're not seeing any sign of what people won't pay, therefore, they just keep increasing.

Quality not quantity, meaning that more people coming into the hobby isn't necessarily good. I have a friend that buys any type of collectable and makes a living selling online. He could care less about the overall health or future of a hobby, so when his meal ticket for that is over he'll move on to something else. What's left behind is a market that's been driven through the roof and the hobbyist no longer collecting/buying because it became too expensive.

As far as operators are concerned...forget it, I have no idea how they can make it with the current price levels!

My $.02.