Mike. No one can criticize you for seeking a 'reasonable' rate. Just dont think its your business to create the market, you state is there. Your value is in your production methods and integrity, not trying to build Ebay-esk markets. Moreover, does it not cheapen it?
Just dont think people will understand why you just cant state a fair price.
If the rate I charge is too low, the entire production will fly off the shelf and I will be stuck with willing and ready buyers willing to pay a far higher price than the one I'm charging, with no product to deliver them. Whom exactly does that benefit?
On the other hand, if I happen to make a nice profit in the process, I end up with the means to increase production and quality. I can suddenly afford, and make the business case, to go find and get some robotics to make enough of these things to satisfy the market demand, possibly at a lower price. I can suddenly tell my silver coin supplier, hey, look, you need to prioritize my order, because I can afford to pay you for bigger orders at a higher tier. I can start to afford to segregate the created products by quality and simply discard the lowest quality specimens so I'm only delivering the best of my product. Ultimately, profits for me are good, because they directly lead to my ability and willingness to supply the market with a higher quality cut of the product being demanded.
So, no, it does not cheapen it, to answer your question. And when the price I'm willing to sell equals the price people are willing to pay, it's very fair. I will have competitors offering a lower cost product soon enough, probably using software I've given away for free and broadcast loud and clear "use this at no cost to you" to generate private keys for their own product, which I think is more than fair.
Ok. Im just going to make a few points one more time, and then im done.
Just to echo molecular points. If someone/reseller had an idea to sell your coins in a business like/defined way, they can no longer do that due to supply being inconsistent and/or disrupted (you dont seem confident how and when these will go on sale, going forward). This, together with unknown prices from one auction to the next, does not instill any confidence, in a possible opportunity or benefit for a re-seller, other than pure speculation, which is where the magic starts to dissolve and dissipate!
Ive read your thoughts about competitors elsewhere, as well as here, so it appears a firm belief for you, that some other outfit is going to challenge and compete directly with what you have created here. Mike, its not going to happen, anytime soon. Im wondering if your perspective/position, is allowing you to fully appreciate the value in brand Casascius. Yes, someone could challenge you, and possibly should, but for others to replicate what you have built in terms of integrity, value, and desire, is years away, if at all.
Im done. Thanks for the attention.