also helps determine pricing. Look at the market for PCs today compared to even 10 years ago! Exponential increase, hence lower profit margins required to make the same amount of profit! Look at the market for RC gear today compared to 10 years ago. About the same, maybe a little increase. Compare the relative sizes of the markets to the costs of manufacturing and R&D, and we get a pretty good value for our dollars.

BTW, in 1975, I could buy a "high tech" 5-gear bicycle for around $100. Today, a 10-gear cost me over $300, just last year, adn to get a "competition" bike, you're looking at over $1000. In 1969, I bought a Royal 6-channel kit (yes they made/sold radio kits) for about $200. Today that same $200, plus another $30 or so, would got me a 6-channel Futaba radio system, and it was RTF, not even ARF, let alone kit.