Sure, it's expensive, but as your background page points out, many private aircraft cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Folks spending such money probably wouldn't blink at spending a thousand or more on a kit.
And I agree -- quality isn't cheap. And if the ETS Foundation gets something out of it, all that much better.
As I sit here and think about the money and time invested in my own gear, all of a sudden it adds up quickly! <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
While I won't be buying one of the kits, I really do appreciate the time taken to write-up the components and take lots of pictures. It helps to give us great ideas for our own kits (not to mention the "drool" factor). <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />