I have a friend that likes $5 cigars, he says he can buy three boxes for what I pay for one, that's fine, I don't smoke that many cigars, but when I do, I want it to be one I like. I prefer quality over quantity, hell some of the folks are buying taurus, by that same logic. I like my Smiths, but price plays no part. The reason the Python cost as much as it does, is because people are paying that much for em. They are one of the finest production revolvers ever made.