WOW this is an awesome mini!!
Also, This Bad Boy
Also.. This one is rather Amazing!
But seriously, Who has the cash for these?  Anyone?  *scans the internet audience*  
So what is the deal?  Why the heck do we even have these minis made if they are so expensive as to break our budget just by looking at them?  Well, you might want to look in the mirror.  (sorry)
Because it's all your fault.


That's right!  It's all your fault.  We as the consumers have proved that we are willing to shell out cash for whatever it is we feel is cool enough..  
My case in point here..   I splashed out $500 US for this bad boy..  and I do not regret it.  It is an amazing centerpiece, talking point, and hobby adventure.  
But here is where the story starts.  
Y'all remember this bad boy?  Probably not, because almost no one got him..  He was too expensive, too hard to cast, and too big.  He is the grandaddy of all the warhammer dragons..   Hardly any were made, and very few were sold. 

Eventually we started to see that minis like this were rather viable.. 
Yeah remember this guy?  He wasn't cheap.. but he did sell..
Originally our collective desire was able to support 1 company and one company alone.  Forge World was unique in producing these epic, large army centerpieces.  Of course other companies tried, but FW stayed the course.  
But they had to keep making more and more minis.. greater and greater challenge, as the demand for minis slowed and styles changed.  
We got more dragons.  


We bought them.  And more Dragons
We bought them.  And then we got the mother of all dragons
It sold out.  Let me repeat that.  This Dragon sold out...  at $490 US it sold out immediately.  Oh and it's still for sale.    So people are still buying it.  That is crazy.  You know what?  Then Privateer Press started to get in on the action.. And Raging heroes.. and next who knows?  
The reason minis are so expensive is called us.  
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I have seen a Tau Manta in person.  It was in a basement, unpainted but assembled.  The Manta is $1500!! It was bought multiple multiple times.  Will you buy any of these minis?  I don't know.  but if you want to know why they are so expensive just look in the mirror.