Rising prices have had an effect on me. I've bought GW product since the early nineties, starting with the 4th Edition WHFB box set with High Elves, and Gobbos. It also came with Eltharion on Griffon, and Grom the Paunch [RIP] in
cardboard form.
So, a little over 20 years of funnelling my festivities money into GW's purse. It wasn't always a lot. I had a lot of different interests, some of which tasted great going down and terrible coming back up. *shrug*
7th edition is financially breaking my will to keep paying. I mean, the quick turn-around on the core rules, codices, sub-codices [full price] allies requiring more codices... Campaign Expansions that provide the rules I feel I need to play Blood Angels effectively... I mean, if I were inclined to purchase the slew of books that I need to staple together a list in order to field a list that isn't beaten like a baby seal, well, I could buy all the models for that list. Hmmm... buy paper that'll be a paperweight in 2 years, or buy models I can play with for 20 years? Hmm...
I can say that I've seen prices easily double in my time. I can also say that the value of the minis has never diminished, in my mind. I played a certain Tragical Card Game that sucked hundreds of dollars out of me, and are now worth nothing, really. I have video games that I no longer play, and sold off for a sliver of what they were purchased for.
When the edition changes, or the codex is updated, I'll use my Guardsmen again. I don't have as much fun with them right now as I used to, but that's fine as I'm trying to make Blood Angels work [Red Marines are still a consideration, at this point] so I'm still having fun with them. If models were cheaper, I'd buy more of them. It's hard to lay out $60 a box when you've got the Canadian dream going. You know, two kids, wife, house, beaver pelt business, the whole 9 metres.
I don't mind buying a rulebook every 4 years... so after a year or so of 7th I bought Deathstorm that came with the Rulebook. I don't mind buying a codex for my factions, but I expect that codex to provide me a complete army. Not have chunks spread across 4 or more publications so that I need to keep shelling out for rules. That burns me as a customer. Shield of Baal: Exterminatus contains 1/3 of a books worth of rules, spread across 3 factions. So roughly 1/9 of a book worth of rules. The BA codex couldn't be 5 pages thicker to accommodate? Makes me mad as a customer, so I'm not buying.
I still like the models. I'm looking forward to picking up some used Pods, because they're stupidly expensive for Deep Strike rules. Many things DS without needing a model to represent it. We can't just say that Pods are designed to break apart after landing? Sigh. I'm looking forward to buying some used Bikes, because DV had a bunch in it and I figure people are probably parting ways with them. If these models were cheaper, I'd buy them at GW like I used to. Even now, there's a place about an hour away that sells 40k at 20% off of GW's prices, everyday. I bought the Deathstorm box there for $120, instead of $150. It was cheaper after taxes [$135] than it was pre-tax at GW.
My lack of... bound... books has led me to not play my BA at my local GW. Since I don't want to play my Guard there, I've been playing at my friend's houses. Since I'm not playing at GW, I'm not feeling an urge to financially support them. I've gone from hardcore legitimate gamer, supporting GW's enforcement of their copyright, to a peg-leg-hook-hand extraordinaire in the course of a few months. I used to pay full pop for my models and books, because I felt they were worth it. The price for books has gone so far off the deep end it makes me ill. The price for models has, as of the last few months, led me to seek used models for the first time in 20 years of collecting. I've hit my financial break-point. I no longer directly financially support GW, only the off-shoots, and stores that offer deep discounts.