Before analyzing the Market please read.

[whiskeybravo]

I think a lot of you are missing the point of the OP. Personal experiences are not an objective indication of the state of the market.

But the market is made entirely of personal experiences. Whether buying or selling.

I think OSU has the more compelling argument here. Early crafters experienced abnormally high profit margins because of lack of competition. And just like the real world if there is more competition (helped by free entry and exit from the marketplace) prices will go down due to the increase in supply (without corresponding increase in Demand). That's actually the picture of a healthy economy due to more people being able to afford more products (IE more people have running water, electricity, refrigeration, food, clothing, etc.).

Furthermore, prices will drop when demand drops (unless a huge decrease in supply offsets this). My observations indicate that many people are saving for housing. This is the elephant in the room due to the price tag, and the biggest change in the market since the patch. It's reasonable to assume this has a major impact on buying decisions. CT loot and increased tome collection being on the periphery, I think.

I honestly get a kick out of all this economic talk. You wonder why companies spend millions upon millions lobbying their governments for special privileges, contracts, changes to the law. IT'S BECAUSE THEY WANT THEIR PROFIT BACK. A free and competitive market is a bitch for greedy CEOs.