I don't doubt what you are saying at all, the panel is exactly the same as the 8 series with exact same specs beside the 9 series not having local dimming, its basically the outside they have changed which I don't see how they can justify the big jump in price. Even if I had the spare cash I don't think I would have got this instead of my 8 series. I could justify an extra thousand or so but not nearly double the price.