We can't see the chart anymore but HardOCP did a study of nVidia prices from 2000-2017 and what they found was the top tier original release x80 equivalent card pretty much was consistently $700 (when adjusted for inflation)
Every single time a brand new high end NVIDIA GPU is launched, we always have the same responses. Some people think it is too expensive while others think it is well worth the price considering the performance. What is, and isn't worth it to you, is obviously a very subjective matter, and as...
hardforum.com
"Our method is simple; pick NVIDIA's top end GPU introduction price for each era and estimate inflation using the Bureau of Labor and Statistics published values for the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) based on the launch date of each GPU. The end period used is January 2017, as these are the most recent published figures. (I doubt there has been much inflation since then.) Once done, we figure out the price in 2017 dollars for every card at launch, and chart those on a graph...... We also made the conscious decision to start in 2000, as that seemed like a nice round year to start things at."
"As we can see from this chart, current pricing for the 1080 Ti is pretty much inline with where NVIDIA has typically been. When adjusted for inflation the 1080 Ti almost exactly matches the price of the GeForce 2 Ultra from back in 2000. We have some notable fluctuation over the years, which mostly seems to coincide with when NVIDIA had true competition in the market place. When NVIDIA were on top, and the competition had nothing, the prices went up, as we can see with the 8800 Ultra. Other times, during periods of higher competition in the market, pricing was lower. You could argue that the 1080 Ti is actually under-priced for the market climate. Argue whichever way you want about the appropriateness of NVIDIA's pricing, but this information does show a trend much in line with the relative market position of the brand."
In March 2017 when that analysis was posted the CPI was 243.801
In February 2022 when that analysis was posted the CPI was 283.716
That, from a "historical trends perspective", would put the 3080 at about $814.60. By that yardstick ... they are still quite a bit above the expected price levels.... but then again.... it's not exactly as if there's serious competition.
Asofmarch, the steam hardware survey shows nVidia having 77.13 % of the market / AMD 14.15% / Intel 8.52 % ... that puts nVidia with 5.45 times as many cards hitting steam as AMD. On the positive side, (for nVidia), they have the top 13 spots in the rankings but on the downside only 3 of then are 3xxx series with the 3060 7th with 2.48%, the laptop version of the 3060 at 2.22% and the 3070 at 2.11%. The 1060 leads with 8.18%
On the AMD side, the entire AMD Radeon Graphics line totals just 1.65% and the largest market share individual card if the AMD Radeon RX 580 w/ 1.41%. Market Share for nVidia has been on a steady rise for 15 months.
Three things need to happen,
here in the US for a return to where we see cards get near $700 (in 2017 dollars).
1. We currently have exclusions from tariffs for TV tuners, video surveillance systems, certain types of digital cameras) but , as far as i can tell, not for video cards. We had for a while, an exclusion on video cards but the exclusions expired. Most of the excluded items are deemed to be "critical" in nature. As long as tariffs remain high, and in the current political climate, no one is going to come out what would undoubtedly be labeled "Pro China", doesn't seem to be much hope on the horizon.
https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/7/22217206/nvidia-amd-gpu-trump-tax-china-tariff-exemption-expire
2. Competion must return to the market. The answer to the perennial question "Why does nVidia charge so much for their products ?" is "because they can". Corporate officers are legally obligated to maximize profits (within legal limits). If they fail to do so, they can be replaced or legally charged.
3. Consumers need to return to a common sense approach. Since the dawn of social media, for a significant portion of the buying public, social status is more and more determined by standing on social media. Who has the latest smartphone, the esclusive sneakers ... the new puter upgrade ? It's not only the cost impact on the wallet but also the impact on one's social standing on the land if one is deemed to have an inadequate gaming system. An expensive GFX card upgrade or being the "1st on the block" (or in a web forum) to have the new shiny thing is, in may purchasers minds, a way to increase their social status. If lowering prices a goal... stop buying.
i know ... subjective opinion 
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