There is so much that goes on behind that scenes that we are unaware of, that it's hard to attempt to comment on something like this..
Heres a few influencing factors;
Asian market buyers are bidding up the prices due to competition and the 'breeding' scene over there.
Asian breeders want the prices to be high so their captive bred specimens will hold there value, so they will do what they can to drive up the price.
Exporters are not stupid. They have known about the Leopoldi prices since the ban, due to supply and demand. They have been waiting for the ban to be lifted to capitalize on this for some time.
Mike, Mark H, Asia really don't set the prices, but rather the prices are set from a formula that exponentially grows each time the rays switch hands. The initial price will have a huge influence on the final price. (example: Motoros $7 out of the river, Tiger Rays $220 out of the river.. Motoros $150 retail, Tiger Ray $700 retail ... so what if BD's are $800 out of the river?!?)
Many costs are figured into exporting and importing that hobbyists aren't even aware of.. and if you don't price your stock with these variables in your pricing, you will go out of business fast.
Fisherman, Collectors, Exporting/Importing Fees/Taxes, Price of Gasoline, Distance of Flight, Transhipping, Middlemen, DOAs, Medications, Food, Electricity, etc.. are all figured into the price. Hobbyists don't see these and don't care. Do you think any of these prices have dropped since 2005? or do you think they went up?
I would agree that some folks in some places might be upping the prices based on the fact that they will sell for that.. It's simple supply and demand, simple business math. Black rays have now become a status symbol, like Asian Aros, not a hobbyist fish. However, 'some folks in some places' might have variables in there process that factor into the cost - such as a 1 month quarantine.
I talk alot with Mike and I know he's not gouging prices, but rather trying to price them as best as he can to stay operable. I am sure that is what most of the other hobbyists/importers, such as Mark H, are also trying to do. I've spoken with Mark before a few times, and he is an upstanding guy.. I highly doubt he is trying to get rich off importing black rays, but rather trying to help the hobby and proliferate the passion for rays...
If you had a chance to sell your rare 83 oldsmobile cutlass for $870,000 grand and retire because some crazy car collector from another country has the means, the money, and the want.. would you? [sarcasm] of course not.. you would tell them that is crazy talk and sell them for their true value of $100 out of the junkyard. [/sarcasm]
I think Hobbyists that have never imported on a large scale or have had to work with 3rd world greedy exporters should voice there opinions and leave it at that. Consider yourself lucky if you got one before the price increase. Someone is cashing in, not because they are greedy, but because they are smart... and I guarantee the person cashing in likely comes from a country with low moral values, greed, corruption, poverty, and seasonal flooding.
