Yep, I think some people have very unrealistic expectations in regards to pricing or want modern SSC quality at old Hasbro prices. Prior to this release, your only option if you just had to have a probe droid would be to go some place like the RPF and commission one for ~$500 - $1000 (supposing there were even any for offer).
Sideshow's luckily big enough that they can have I'm guessing a 3000 - 5000 unit run and make it affordable for the average fan. Really of any figure to be up-in-arms about pricing, I can't see why this would be the straw breaking the camel's back. Deluxe Vader is bloated with an unnecessary light-up base, decorative helmet w/additional light-up base, non-Sebastian Shaw headsculpt and riddled with inaccuracies to boot, and few people seem to mind. This is in comparison a bargain, IMO.
. Being a studio scale/prop SW collector this thing is great. Price is actually very good if you look at it in filming maquette terms. Heck the efX TIE Fighter was $1000 and it just sits there, and I don't regret that purchase one bit. It's all perspective. It will look amazing next to my MR snow speeder.
