Thats mad!! Though I suppose its the same relative price increase as seen in the UK, its just the exchange rate makes it look really MAD!!!
Ordered my LB16 from the UK just before Christmas and was lucky to hit the jackpot timing wise. Oldish stock bought by the retailers at the very favourable GBP/USD exchange rate and priced accordingly, then there was a very large Meade subsidised discount in the UK, then there was the specific retailer 10% Christmas discount and then there was the Euro reaching parity with the Pound.
I paid the GBP968/Euro1000ish. At todays AUD exchange rate thats AUD1980. IN the UK the LB16's are gone back up to GBP1800+
after saving so much on my 16in, I don't feel so bad about spending so much extra on mods for it

Its going to be the worlds most unique LB16 when its finished