I picked up PE Oct 2019, so a almost a year and half ago, for 25 bucks. Before that it looks like Oct 2016 for Ultimate Edition, for 65.

I know everyone's financial circumstances are different and I certainly don't want to discount that. I can only say for me personally if someone asked me if I'd pay an average of 20 dollars a year to have this kind of great single player focused air combat simulator I'd have no problem saying yes! There are just so few people making these the price seems more than fair.

Don't begrudge anyone for having a differing opinion of course, just that when I average out the cost over the amount of time these guys have been producing it seems okay (to me).