Flyer -- I know a guy like you can appreciate quality. I don't think its fair to say the gun costs too much for its size -- small size is what its all about. When size is an issue, you always pay more to get the smaller, more desireable item.
Fact is, these guys have been working for years and not taking in any money. Now they are building a top quality gun -- no MIM parts, no cast parts. Heck, I once bought an $800 Kimber with a MIM thumb safety that snapped in two before I ever fired a round. Eric Rohrbaugh told me that he or his brother personally test fire every R-9 before it leaves the factory. That is almost like a semi-custom level of attention.
I know its expensive. I also know that people snap up $1,500 P7M8s and $400 Strider folding knives as fast as they can make them. Time will tell -- and we will see if: (a) the quality is what I think it is, and (b) wheather people will pay for that level of quality.