Yes, and when a nice PC originally was marketed you paid close to or
more than $2,000. The reason the price of PCs has dropped is because of
increase in demand. Scanners/receivers/ham radio equipment has niche
market meaning there is a smaller demand for the products. Therefore
equipment pricing tends to be higher. It was the same situation for
Direct TV equipment. Originally the equipment cost was close to $500.
Now it is under $100. Supply and demand drive the pricing of almost
everything.

Jim wrote:

Granted only few % of population want to listen to scanner.
Still, $$$$ (average $500) for a electronic device is a bit too much.
Don't you think?

I can buy a nice PC for $500!!!