Crybabies fear SMD technology, but SMD is really nothing to be scared about, and only the inexperienced will bag it & fear it, until a day comes when they soon realise how easy SMD is and FAR cheaper too.

.....and following on, no board should ever exceed $100, the whole $400+ pricetag for a board is absolute insanity.

2cents...

I agree with your argument BUT I am refering to boards being repairable by hobbyists - SMT certainly is NOT.

The entire concept of SMT is to make boards fast, easy and CHEAP to manufacture. Selling a board (when it actually was available) for $489 is nothing short of a scam IMO. The idea with SMT is that the board is so cheap - you don't have to fix it!!!

Brett, some parts used on those boards are already well obsolete, that's another reason they can't easily be re-created.