People on here are funny.  I guess if I was into 
this hobby months or years ago, back when very few 
people collected cels, I would have trouble with 
today's prices as well.  But I started recently.  
With Tenchi Muyo.  So I've just learned to open my 
wallet wide (and cringe!).  ^_^

Yet despite my attitude, many, many cels are 
snapped up before I can even get to them.  Hence 
the rising prices.  Cel collectors are the only 
folks I know of that think prices should be based 
on anything other than demand.  (Not that I think 
it's a bad thing to sell stuff at cost!)  But name 
ANY other business where dealers (lets say: Taro) 
offer a product for sale and sell out within 
minutes---without raising prices?  If people are 
snapping up your entire stock in a feeding frenzy, 
then your stuff is too cheap.  That's just good 
business.

As for not buying from a dealer because he/she is 
too expensive, you're right.  But that is MUCH 
more effective when you have alternatives.  In the 
case of cels, it's not like you can comparison 
shop all over like for a microwave or hair dryer. 
  When they're gone, they're gone.

Anyhoo, I just wanted to add my 2.4 yen.  I wish 
Tenchi cels (and others) were cheaper, but with 
the way they sell out within minutes after every 
update, I think we should all be grateful that 
prices aren't much, MUCH higher.

JP