Here here, I couldn't agree more. The cost of 1/35th and 54mm figures in particular have risen dramatically over the last 8 years or so, while the quantity included, in the case of sets, has shrunk.
Some warrant the doubling or tripling in price due to the considerable increase in sculpting quality (especially in the case of some resin offerings) but many of the styrene figures from the biggest makers have not improved proportionately in my opinion. The smaller guys like Masterbox, Miniart etc. are trumping them in that area, both in terms of sculpting as well as anatomy/proportions and realism in posing. As a professional illustrator, I am accutely aware of these differences.
I'm also tired of certain manufacturers skimping on the crew figures for armored vehicles, planes etc. I realize that they want the consumer to buy their aftermarket figure sets, but one pilot or commander figure isn't going to break them.
It seems like only a few years ago when one could buy a top of the line 90MM White metal figure for the same price that many of the newest 54mm RESIN figures are selling for now.
Those makers of 54mm figures that have kept their prices reasonable (considering inflation) like HISTOREX/Nemrod are hard(er) to get in the States, at least the styrene Historex Napoleonics are.