Absolutely mental and scalpers don't help either they are killing the hobby, makes me sick that they can buy a HT's figure cheap and then flog it on flea bay for idiotic prices. I was looking to buy the IM stealth figure until I saw what the scalpers were charging for it, there is a limit and they were way over that and then some.
Yeah burn those scalping bastards! Who's with me?
Right beside you buddy, eradicate them like vermin 
Finally got my processing email from sideshow for Prime and it will ship on May 4th
Bad news is that for us Europeans, the shipping has been quoted at a whopping $240
If that wasn't bad enough, I recieved a second processing email from sideshow for the Prime switch out bust which will also be shipping on the same day
I've got some thinking to do cos this is gonna cost a bomb!
Might be Ninja Prime in the next movie who knows? Original is always better imo so i say stick with DOTM 
but in the end i decided that i need this Prime big time and i dont foresee ever selling it (unless i'm forced to do so) in which case the debate as to whether the piece will hold its price in years to come doesn't really come into play for me. 
lol i know a few collectors who have the same dilemma. For sure, the new Prime Knight has a better ES run than the DOTM version aswell as a cheaper price, but for me, i think the DOTM version is the better representation of the movie Prime that your likely to ever get imo. I guess it comes down to which version you prefer better to have in your collection as opposed to buying cos its cheaper. The Knight Prime is a well executed piece but for me, the pose is a little too static and just isnt a particularly memorable look for Prime...im sure in Transformers 5 he'll look pretty much how he looked in the first 3 movies rather than continue with the Knight look...what do you think?
However, where i will agree with you is that if your having second thoughts about getting this piece then definately take the time to think about it. You mentioned that for the money your spending on Prime, you could certainly afford 3-4 decent 1/4 scale statues instead for that price range...i guess it comes down to how much you want Optimus in your collection. I certainly had the same doubts as your having, more so when i found out about the shipping costs
I've ordered the EX buddy but mine is not with Flex pay so hence why mine is shipping on Monday. I'm sure if you call them and explain your willing to pay sooner than arranged as per your flex pay that they'd be happy to release your order sooner. Worth asking
Optimus will be my last for a while. I would love Bee and iron hide but I just cannot justify the money atm. But what a way to semi retire with Optimus prime 
I say semi retire as I don't think you can ever fully escape this dangerous game haha!
I now have some of life's big events to pay for Andy so the statues are going to have to go on the back burner for now
Yeah totally agree careyb, this is the definitive Optimus prime for me
