Model Steam Railways

The crappy toys at Hornby are now so expensive I can't see how they will continue trading. I haven't looked at their website for over a year but this mornings browse has really surprised me.

There are only so many people that can afford £31 for a tiny shop building or £160 for a loco, and that's without the £21 DCC decoder.
I also can't understand how so many things can be discontinued or (permanently) out of stock when model railways are as popular as ever, if not more so. This just pushes new customers into buying second hand, thereby losing a whole new market.
They no longer make any Hall class loco's despite them being very popular due to so many restored engines still being in daily use.
Half the things shown in their March calendar wallpaper are discontinued.

I clearly got into it at the right time. Here are some examples of things I bought directly from Hornby and the price I paid in 2014/15

R9752 Hagley Station £32 (Now discontinued, Similar item £55)
R9794 'The Barn' Workshop £9 (Now discontinued, Similar item £29)
R6588 Edwin W Badland Five Plank Wagon £5 (Now discontinued, Similar item £15)
R6656 Ellis & Everard Four Plank Wagon £5 (Now discontinued, Similar item £15)
R4523 GWR Composite Coach £10 (Now £24)
R4350 BR Mk1 Corridor Composite Coach - Maroon £12 (Now £22)
R4351 BR Mk1 Corridor Second Coach E25366 BR Maroon £10 (Now £22)
R7092 Mechanical Horse Delivery Lorry £4 (Now discontinued)
R3279 RailRoad BR 4-6-0 'County Of Hants' County Class £68 (Now discontinued Similar item £91)
R3278 BR 4-6-0 Partriot Class Steam Locomotive No. 45518 'Bradshaw' £70 (Now discontinued Similar item £170)
R3205 BR 4-6-0 ‘Rood Ashton Hall’ 4900 Class - Late BR £80 (Entire class now discontinued)
R8249 Loco Decoder V1.3 NMRA Compliant £17 (Now £21)
R8234 14.1mm 4 Hole Wheels £7 (Now £17)

Some items are still available from Hattons, where everything is usually cheaper than Hornby's own price.