The mental jump to a £600 level for a British/Irish outline engine is quite a considerable one but, if it had been a continental HO model, that price level would be seen as reasonable!
I suppose it's all about what you're conditioned to accept.
Hopefully it won't come to that. I did send my order and cheque in by International Signed & Tracked Post, so hopefully it'll reach Dublin by Christmas Eve.
So a bit like the Ford Capri then - 'twas said there were no two cars that were exactly alike because there were so many permutations / options available to the customer.
As an alternative to MJT hornblocks, High Level produce some very acceptable (and compact) hornblocks and bearings - takes seconds to assemble and requires hardly any solder until ready to fix in the frames.