I'm surprised SE didn't make it like how they did odyssey. IE those that early adopted odyssey gear paid alot more for the gear. Now, at least on asura the gear is at the minimal prices, 10% of the original cost. They could have done the same thing for the gallimaufry cost. IE the cost of stage 3 is high at first 1m, but decreases as more complete that stage, until it finally bottoms out at 10% of the original cost, 100k, or whatever percent they wish to have it bottom out at.