Responding to Moby's original question - I think this is a golden time for new collectors to fill in some hard to get pieces as well as getting some great values on newer pieces. I do think this is a temporary dip due to many economical factors.
Five years from now those first 49 will be even rarer (<5500) and the additional collectors will make the >5500 in shorter supply.
Collectors in 2006 will not be collecting all HLs but will want to add those local regional hard-to-get LEs as the jewel of their collection.
Or maybe not!
Anyway, Kristin will have some nice surprises for her collection in the near future.