charlest: I didn't think this thread would get the fur up on your back
On the price issue, you can usually always find high end stuff from Ebonite, Storm, Brusnwick (etc.) cheaper. It was DP3's 'half price' assertion that got my attention. That's just ridiculous. Again there are ways to get Lane#1 at prices in what you would call 'the reasonable' category. And for what it's worth, I've never bought one online.
Regardless, price/value is a very individual thing. For me, 30-40 dollars is a non-issue if it gets me what I'm looking for. You may not have found 'value' in some of your Lane#1 experiences, and that's OK. Not every ball/line matches up for every bowler.
My issue with DP3's comments were more about his 'match-up' comments (for customers) of Lane#1 relative to other company equipment. In the exchange, it was clear to me he really didn't have a firm grounding in the near current Lane#1 line. Yet he readily concluded that Lane#1 offered nothing of value for his clients. That's wrong at many levels. Sorry if you don't agree with that.
As far as Richie and Phil, my comment about their arrangement was directed at the cover technology Lane#1 will have access to. I was a fan of the covers Phil put out while at Track, and maybe it's a reach, but I'd like to believe good cover technology will be made available to Lane#1 in the future. I'm an optimist in that way.
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"Sometimes, the best move is the one we don't make"