I dont think it's too high at all. Though, I dont know where your paying 500 for it at? I bought it when it was brand new the day it came out at Wal Mart. And I think it was 400 bux. And well worth the price of admissions if you ask me. Plus, it destroys any other system on the planet by far, and has capabilities Micrcrap could only dream about having in their crappy products.