Originally posted by Docrwm Sorry, but go read the posts about how its great that the US is not paying what "we've" been paying all along - there are dozens of them in these various threads (including the one immediately after your post). As for asking for this, never asked for absurd rises in prices nor for no tangible gain from Pentax for higher prices. I'll say it once more - increase quality, increase variety, increase support, increase ANY ONE of them and THEN ask for more in return.
I did preface that with no sour grapes from me but try and see it from a perspective other than your own individual one
I'll ask again how do you know that more tangible gains aren't part of the plan. As someone who spent 25 years at retail this move would say to me that Pentax is going to support what they have been telling me since CES earlier this year. This could close some dealer agreements. I think there is a need to add some value through better warranty support. Given the 18-135 is SDM and I haven't seen complaints of failure from it I think the SDM issue may be resolved but not communicated. The number of complaints about recent purchase lenses failing seems to be far lower now would support that. I think they should have done a better job with support on the early ones though.
Until we can see the whole plan in effect though there really is no point to the endless complaining. Either the changes will give you value or they won't. If they don't vote with your wallet and change to a brand that gives you what it is you are looking for.
I'm not averse to changing brands (I've owned Pentax, Nikon and Canon in the past in 35mm SLR), but for me Pentax still hits the sweet spot