Mellotronists

Since a lot of these first-gen M-400's offered on eBay are going for 
close to $4,000 in acceptable condition, plus shipping...why not just 
get one of the new M-500's? Much more stable, brand spankin' new...and 
the best of the old and the new. Doesn't the USA east coast and west 
coast distributor have these for sale, or do they all come from Canada 
and are built as per order instead of a run of a few dozen or so at a 
time? It would seem that getting them from Alberta would be a customs 
headache and extra shipping for those wanting them in the States. It 
appears that Kean comes down into the States once or twice a year if 
I'm not mistaken, and could bring down a truckload from time to time, 
or bring one down if he's vacationing in his van/truck ???