The issue of WFRP's price is interesting to me. I guess the $100 price tag is shocking. However, It's fascinating that I have never heard that complaint from players and dm's of the most well known RPG of all time D&D. Everyone knows that the minimum entry cost for dm's to run D&D is $100 ($30 to $35 per rulebook: dmg,phb,and monster manual ). Since 3rd edition D&D the heavy tactical mechanics makes playing without miniatures and a battle map impossible. So, $100 doesn't get the dm there. WFRP on the other hand provides everything u need for $100 miniatures, dice, rulebooks, and action cards (no photo coying or printing required that goes for character sheets as well.) Now don't get me wrong there are plenty of rpg's which don't require 3 rulebook's and or battle maps, but that means the conversation should be about rpgs which require multiple core rulebooks and maps and those which don't. WFRP compares very favorably to 4th edition price wise and unarguably beats it. Now that I have played WFRP I also realize the core set can easily support a 5 to 6 player game with a little bit of sharing of basic components so that argument is invalid also. The bottom line is WFRP pricing is not something new and is in line with other rpg's of it's type. If you don't want to get it because of price I guess you won't be running Earthdawn 3rd edition or D&D 4th edition either.

Most people agree that for what you get the price tag is appropiate and even a reasonably good deal.

The issue is that thats the opt in price for a completly new system. The other systems you mentioned have been around for quite some time using the same basic mechanics.

Also I have found for the most part that RPG stores will let you browse through a book before you buy it, while with a boxed set they wont. Though the stores with the demo will possibly have one to look through.

That all said we have quite a number of posts discussing this anyway.