Why CD players so expensive when the fomat is dead

"Why CD players so expensive when the format is dead"

I think the question kind of answers itself. When things get near death, the price goes way up. U can still buy a cassette deck too, for some reason? If the op has been paying attention, red-book players have been off the market for about 4 years. (Im not talking about DVD players that do everthing.)The only CD redbook only players that remain are the high end models.

"by the way, if a product is being discontinued, the price usuually goes down not up."

No it does not. I'm not talking about when product model x is replaced by model x.1. I'm talking about a technology CHANGE. When a technology is phased out and production levels fall to a tricle- the price goes way up.
Look at the price of a dial-up external modum, almost the price of a whole computer and needs to be ordered. You can still buy a cassette player and you can still buy a VCR, BUT look at the prices. You can still by LPs of most rock released, but look at the price - $30 for a record. You can still buy blank Metalic cassette tapes, but look at the price- 30 bucks for a blank cassette. You can still buy NOS vac tubes, but look at the price!

OK - get on down to your WalMart job now.