well, in defense of the high-margin dealers, remember that there are two sides to every buy-sell equation.
if you don't think the price is reasonable, then negotiate. there's always some dealer who'll be happy to take a lower profit to simply book mail-order revenue --- regardless of what limits his dealership agreement with M says.
calendar year end has been a really good time to negotiate deals for me on M equipment.
my local dealer is useless and won't discount reasonably given their minimal knowledge of the product and complete and utter lack of a broad line of demo equipment. so i just shop elsewhere.
doody.
[This message has been edited by MrDoody (edited 08-18-2003).]