This is more of a minor rant than anything else, although I would be interested in peoples' opinions.

It seems that prices are going up faster recently. In GFE-land, there seem to be three price levels which I'll call 'reasonably low', 'average' and 'unreasonably high'. We all know are there some providers who might be charitably called 'social' in nature that routinely charge lower. And you get what you pay for which I would aruge is effectively nothing. Then there are others who do in fact provide GFE service at reasonably low prices. Most provider at the average price level, which has recently inflated by about 20 percent from my view. And there are those who claim to do the same in the unreasonably high region. I have seen one provider asking $8K /hr although this may have been a typo. Even so, the corrected number would still be in my 'unreasonably high' price range. Anything in 4 digits is unreasonably high for me. It is easy to say that I am cheap, but in reality I am not as a very few people are well aware. What I object to is this unrealistic trend. A year ago I spent in the more rarified air and frankly got worst service ever. And I make absolutely no mention of prices ever. So that is not the explanation. The person in question came highly recommended - she just didnt quite cut it. This got me to wondering whether or not any such service was really that much worth it. For example, would you go to 10K/hr? How about 5K? How about 2K? How about 1K? You get the idea. There is some breaking point for anyone. Even though I live in the DC market where (purportedly) recent financial difficulties have not hit as hard, are these newer higher numbers justified. Can any hobbyist here really tell me with a straight face that paying in this unreasonably high range is actually justifiable? I'm sure the providers who charge in this range think it makes sense. But I know for a fact that one can charge less and do quite well annually. So what gives? Value seems to have gone out the window. Why is it that average looking and sub par performing providers think they can charge higher? Am I missing something here? Again, more of a rant as I said at the outset. And I truly am wondering if mine is a voice in the darkness.