We can stop these price increases easily:
If we all start buying online brands like Switch, Mutiny, .... Then the big brands will have to change their pricing policy fast. (I'm not related to Switch kites but as soon one good kite surfer shows up on his spot with a Switch kite soon others will follow because the man performs greatly on his Switch kite - just like it happened with best kites about 6 years ago).
North, Cabrinha and Naish mainly sell their brand name and people want to pay the price (like they do with cars: BMW, Mercedes and Audi)
Don't worry as the world recession will kill this trend of expensive stuff soon as the big spenders are likely to get extincted.