1Ds Pricing

For What it's Worth
After a month of uncertainty (between Photokina in late September and PhotoPlus Expo in later October, 2002), Canon has announced the price of the 1Ds —USD $7,999. Better than the $8,999 mentioned at Photokina, but not as low as some photographers had hoped.
This has subsequently become a major topic of discussion on the various Forums around the Net. There are accusations that Canon is price gouging; or that their marketing people are brain addled, and worse. Well, I have no special inside information (at least not much), but frankly this type of talk is childish and ill-informed at best. So, for what it's worth here ismytake on the issue, and lest anyone think that this is side-line banter, be aware that I have a 1Ds on order and will feel the pricing pain as much as anyone.
A History Lesson
A lot of people are coming to the party late; just getting into high-end digital SLRs for the first time during the past year or two. But, if you've been an observer or...