1337,
Not really. When you consider that the silent compressor with care will last you 10 years or more I don't think it's a bad deal at all. It is a lot up front but I would guess that many people have 5 times that amount of money in unbuilt kits in their stash.
![Wink [;)]](/FSM/CS/emoticons/icon_smile_wink.gif)
Now the Medea Shark compressors like you mentioned are the "High-roller" types, especially since they start at $495 and go up to $1095 for the Great White Shark T-shirt compressor.
Speaking of the Shark series compressors, here's a Hammerhead Shark model for sale on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=28111&item=8112027517&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Mike
“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not
to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools
for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know
how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon