This thread got me to thinking. Why am I so reluctant to spend $10,000 on a sewing machine, when I spend more than that on a car? I keep a car 3-5 years. I keep a good sewing machine 10 years, or longer if it is still working. All of a sudden the price of a long arm seems reasonable.
But I agree that prices of machines should not be such huge secrets. Auto manufacturers advertise the "list" price of cars and dealers still add their mark ups and sell cars. Sewing machine manufacturers could easily do the same.