Interesting topic. One can be forgiven for forgetting that pinballs were imported into the country by container loads in the 70's, that would dwarf any year after 2000.

1. is it true 2008 was a year of high prices?;

No evidence suggests that other than opinion. Having a quick look at my spreadsheet of prices from years gone by, the market prices in Australia ;

2008 Prices

Addams Family -$4500 to $6000
CV - $4500 to $5000

2. if so have prices (generally) now surpassed 2008 levels;

Easily. Based mainly on greed rather than supply and demand. Evidence is overwhelming - just a quick scan of fleabay and listening to what games are being priced at (but no necessarily sold for)

2015 Prices

Addams Family - $7500 to $8500
CV (if you can find one) - $7000 to $8000

I recently restored an Addams that I VALUED at $9500. Dealers have raised their prices, and cut down on quality of workmanship, yet claim they sell Addams for $8500 +

3. if so why was 2008 a "peak"? Was it before container pins began coming into Oz in a bigger way?

2008 was not a peak in terms of volume or pricing - we are still heading towards THAT peak in the home market - but this needs to be put into context with respect to the containers that were imported in the Golden Age of pinball - before the home market. If we are purely discussing prices, then 2008 was simply another pedestrian year.

I bought my CV in 2008 for under $3000. I get offers of $7500 "as is" in 2015. No way was 2008 "the peak year" in the real world.