I'm with Joe. There has never been a time when toy trains have been inexpensive or seemed reasonably priced, whether they be good times or bad, O gauge or N, RTR or kit.
I didn't hear any stereotyping in what Joe was relating...only that times and trends have changed. Us grey hairs can remember when the number one boys hobby was model railroading. I'm always amazed to see the younger set getting interested in trains. I hit the brick a mortar LHS and find it encouraging that the hobby still can attract new blood.
Those $5.50 sets you quoted only came with an engine, 2 cars and an minimal oval of track. No lights, no transformer, no batteries/ rheostat, no E unit, no sound. The ultimate in model railroading austerity. By the time you were out the door with a RTR set it cost you over $10. Compare that with the cheapest Lioncheif offering at $250, which contains all you need to run trains, and it pretty much works out equally. In fact I dare say the entry level sets of today are a bargain.
Bruce
