So, the 8800gT is out, and so far, it hasn't affected the prices of the 8800GTS, which it beats...then, looking around here, everyone seems convinced that the GTS is going to get an overhaul, stay at the same price, but have a performance boost, once they sell through the 320 stock.

Well, doesn't this sound exactly like the way Apple sells Ipods? As soon as the new ones are out, the old ones are impossible to find (new, anyways), and the prices never change (or inflate very gradually for frog-boiling action).

Is this really a good thing? I don't know, maybe, but sometimes, as a frugal spender, I like to buy the mid-high cards from last generation (that's how I picked up my X800 so cheaply) at reduced prices, as they often outperform current-gen mid-range.

and i suppose you think the 7 series never dropped in price...

The 7 series have disappeared like rats before flames, compared with the numbers they were in before. The 'egg has double the sku's of 8 series cards on the PCI-e x16 bus as opposed to the 7 series.

Try and find the 7950gt. There's only the XFX version. No 7900GT's. 2 7900GS's.

I'm not saying they're gone, but they have become rare enough that they keep their prices a bit higher.

...and the only 7900GTX's you can get are open-box items for nearly $400...so, they've not come down much at all.

The 7300s and 7600s dropped, yes, but the 7800s and 7900s mostly disappeared, and held their price points as hard as they could.

I see what you're saying - happens a lot.
btw, The x700 is still for sale at TigerDirect for around $100.

For older generation cards, I always buy through eBay, or Craigslist if I see a good deal locally.

Overhaul this

http://www.dailytech.com/But+Wait+ [...] le9474.htm