RE: Big jump in kit prices at Tower
Actually, looking back at the price of kits 10-15 years ago the new higher prices are much more in line or still cheaper than they were. A Top Flite P-40 kit has a lot of time from design to packing the box, and materials in it even for $239. I would bet the price increase is mainly due to still have all the same fixed costs of putting together a kit with much lower sales.
As far as balsa goes people really need to stop worrying about it. Balsa is more like corn than like a maple tree. If there is an increase in demand there will be much more balsa farming and the trees only take a few years to get to to a size for harvest.