has BAT priced itself out of the market?

Same thing can be sold to the wealthier consumer at higher dollar. Better profit, less labor. Just add more educated and professional BS to convince such as "Just listen and Trust Your Own Ears".
VK is about to retire so slowing down with this common strategy is quite natural for especially small manufacturer and retailer. It's much easier to support post-sale ONE unit instead of 10 also.
When I feel like I can't keep up with internet or retail sales, I increase prices of the product I sell to slow down and to keep income near-same.
Will ever Fruit of the Loom start manufacturing couture targetting rockstars instead of inmates who knows?

I think 19k for a stereo tube amp is a bit much. my 75SE was 8k 10 years ago. i know it should be higher now, but not that high.

disclosure: long time BAT owner/fan

"Just add more educated and professional BS to convince such as "Just listen and Trust Your Own Ears"."

Why would that be bad advice? Doing it that way lets the product stand on its own merits.

"has BAT priced itself out of the market?"

That's the beauty of the market. If BAT makes a mistake, they pay for it.

All points well taken. Is a Rolex President Really worth $32k based on price of gold and parts to mfg?? Its attractive because it's not accessible to everyone. Does a $5k bottle of wine really taste that much better than a good $100 bottle? The key is how would you know if you can't afford the buy in cost. I think the high end audio market is going in the same direction. Those that can afford the price of admission can convince themselves that they have the best money can buy without feeling the need to evaluate other lower cost options because like everything else, the more it costs the better it is right?? Wrong.....

Wwchange, the high end audio has picked up this direction decades ago if not earlier.
For same performance you can spend different amounts of money. There are marketting areas virtually for anything you want to sell or build.
My retired dad goes to the salon that discounts haircuts half-way to the senior citizens, retired and students/pupils. Public transportation is very often the same way.

Another words adjusting price to the specific market area is very common practice. By mega-uplifting price VK simply targets wealthier crowd or money-no-option as he grown confident to be in the list of 'best money-no-option products'. Those who will purchase it first off less-likely will pay MSRP can't you figure? Somwhere there will be one dealer or VK himself who will start promotional sale at certain discount percentage and this percentage can grow pretty high which is another marketting maneuver yet to be...