With regard to UCE pricing (the topic of this thread), I have seen some comparative gripes about the high price of the UCEs versus bikes of other companies, which may charge as much or more, but provide more in the way of build quality and performance. It seems to me, though I am very out of touch with prices of things, that the UCE is a bargain in having all the aspects one could want in a classic type of bike, yet having a factory and distributors who obviously care about what they provide, not only in the bikes themselves, but in after sales service.
As to the bank issue which Kevin mentions above - isn't it a turning away from things like quality and service to a simple money making mode of doing business that is behind the whole messy thing? Small anything, whether it be a bike operation (and R E is small in size of organization, isn't it?)or a bank is much better than large, yet integrating small banking units into large conglomerates is what the major trend is, same with agriculture and other business interests. I suppose it has to do with overall efficiency and profit making, but the consumer is the one who loses every time.