I have to agree , Pentax lens prices, at least in the UK are too high. Street prices jumped by 60% last year! The result of which was the 35mmLtd and the 50-135 I had planned to buy, didn't get bought, so that was £850 ( $1300) Pentax didn't earn. Yes they probably made that on the sale of just one 50-135 from someone with deeper pockets, but I bet the lens sales are wayyyy down, and it was a big gamble to gouge more profit from fewer sales. I almost hope it pays off for the sake of their future.( i.e. - having one)
As it turned out I spent a lot less on the Samsung versions of the 12-24 and the 100 macro. So I got a couple of bargains and Pentax lost some more revenue.
It's still currently cheaper ( in most cases) for me to order a Pentax lens from the States and pay 10% import duty and 17.5% tax than buy the same lens here. That's no way to run an international business.
I can't see me paying £850 for a lens that was £500 six months earlier. I just don't feel I'm that dumb, ( though that remains to be seen
) and
that is Pentax's problem now. I'm sure I'm not alone on that front.