One reader mentioned that I should have graphed the prices in "What's Coming in August 3" (below) using a logarithmic scale. Why? Because it reveals more about pricing trends. I actually considered doing that, but decided not to get into that. After being chastised, it's worth pointing something out that isn't obvious from the method I used: the price steps between the four lower models are regular. They work out to about 30% per step. The price steps between the top four models is slightly less regular (likely due to some unusual supply factors), but come very close to 70% per step.
As this eagle-eyed reader pointed out: that's useful information worth knowing. To move up a consumer model, it'll cost you 30%. I think you clearly get 30% in value in the D3100 to D5100 step, but you currently don't get 30% in value at the D7000 to D300s step, for example. The 70% steps in the prosumer/pro models force you to really ask yourself what it is you need/want. You're paying a premium for differentiation, so what do you really get out of that?
Finally, note that historically bodies tend to fall as much as 25% off their initial price by the time they're in End of Life promotions. Thus, we find the top consumer DX D90 fell relatively close to where the the new middle consumer DX D5100 entered. If features are valuable to you, but not 30% more valuable, just wait, a consumer body will come down closer to your expectation over time. This sort of thinking only works well on the four lower-priced bodies. At the high end, even a 25% drop doesn't come close to equalizing two models.