Phil...the die-cast V8 Supercars here are just the same. People are paying up to $500NZD for a classic like the Brock XU1 etc. It seems to be more of a investment for these people now.
I have to agree with what has been said about the cost of kits.
Its far cheaper for me to buy a kit from Japan and have it shipped straight to my door then to pop down to the LHS to buy it.
I also think that they will price them selfs of the market unless they start to drop there costs.
Another interesting thing to me is how much harder it is for someone new to modelling finds it.
There is a huge lack of clubs here in New Zealand (what ones there are dont really cater for cars) so unless they have the net etc it is very hard to pick pointers up.
Plus the kits themselfs seem harder to the average person.
Already i've heard that the new Tamiya JTCC GTR34 Skyline has put severial people off due to the the amount of masking etc needed to paint just the body.
With Tamiya also bringing out there new Pre-finished kits it takes alot of the builders skill away from the kit.