the front of the reg is a wear part because of the feild strip screw. evetually you will strip out the threading with a steel feild strip screw in a alum reg body. there gonna be expensive on trade because what do they do with your old rerto valves? if its like the current program they get melted down. the only gain they get from the trade in is one less unit on the market to warentee. if the price on it is $400 i dont see that is unreasonable, right now a retro sells for 250 new IF YOUR LUCKY, then add LX (65 IF YOUR LUCKY). then add the extra utility you gain from having an aluminum valve that can be annoed and is much lighter (for each person to decide) and the fact that they need to warentee a valve knowing you will strip the threads in then flame them all over the web for, even tho they will replace it with the cost of one "star" if that program works for these valves. (this is a value that Tom gets to decide). that all comes to about $350-$400 then you add in the fact you are gonna have a new toy before anyone else,you will be the first on the block to own one and you will have a nice low serial number. they have not set a price yet (as far as i know) and the one they use for the first year or so will be higher. if no one is willing to pay ~$400 for these they will probably just end the program. there not gonna continue a product if the demand is low (look at the z-grip). such is life....
Tom was the last of a now extinct breed, a breed of players who build a community, a breed of owners who gave to the sport never taking more than what they deserved. I hope to see you at the feild again some day....