SD PokéMom said:
The newer theme decks seem to be retailing for $11-$12 now. Considering that 6 boosters @ $3.29 each = $19.74...$20 seemed fair to me for the prerelease...
'mom
I'm right with you. Especially, considering that the folks contacted for this are largely professional TO who make their LIVING from running these events, the cost is not out of line with the expense (well maybe its not enough cost for the expense of those with low turnout).
Now, the cost may be out of line with many players available cash. That I can understand as well. MAYBE, if PUI gets us non-professional TO involved the cost of more local events can drop. Of course, some of us have the ego to think we could run regional premiere stuff, too. Having volunteer TO run premiere events isn't important unless there aren't enough professional TO to run them in enough locations. We'll see if things can ramp up. Our TO for SSPR said that the short notice kept him from offering in L.A. and S.D. With the next PR, PUI has to hit more than just SD in a state of 30 Million or they won't be making progress...yah, even the NoCals need an event location or two!
As to the grading? Progress is what I'm expecting and what I see (here in US and a little in Europe...ah-ah! Yes, none I know of in Australia, Mexico, SAmerica, Africa. At least some of the Europeans have heard there are plans. Absolutely, it stinks, relatively, its moving, albeit at snails pace, quickening).
Remember what a fiasco the first STS was for some (not me) who couldn't get in, could have been trampled to death, etc.? Well, WOTC learned and those events got better and better 'til they kicked 15+ out. PUI is not starting over, but it _is_ going to take some time for them to come up to speed.