[ffcmike]

It's definitely a valid point, but not a simple matter.
I'd imagine server rental to be a significant contributor to what has kept Graal alive financially. It also provides a platform for completely inexperienced developers for the most part, who would otherwise never be able to get a chance to practise on an established server, albeit this never proves worthwhile for the servers themself.
The effect this has on spreading developers doesn't apply as strongly when it comes to the higher end of things.

I would personally like to see server prices increase quite deliberately to reduce the amount of them being purchased, but then I would like to see this accompanied by improved tools and sufficient official documentation on how to develop, the aim being to make it more worthwhile.

It's incredible how many PMs I've received over the last couple years from people I don't know that have purchased a server, and don't even know (or are unable to find out) the most basic of things such as how to use RC, yet alone the basics of online scripting.