You cannot blame CASA for the lack of larger complex singles being available. If you have any idea of the real costs of maintenance and the financial risks on 210's and other larger retractables, you will understand why no-one in their right mind will hire them out for $250 an hour to 'off the street' punters. These aircrraft can break (or crash) too easily! I used to have aircraft like that on line, but got sick of them coming back absolutely filthy after 'a couple of days hire' needing major rectification, - or being dumped in the middle of nowhere with (say) the the plugs fowled because some genius hirer could not work out how to avoid it.
As for Bernie being cautious, he should be - and there really is no need to be abusive about a guy who has the sense to realise there is major financial risk in this activity. As for the aircraft, it is a 210A and one of the most nicely presented A models you will find anywhere. What do you expect from an almost 50 year old aircraft? (BTW, I thought defamation was not allowed on Pprune!!!!)
If the market would pay a reasonable rate, you would find plenty of aircraft available for hire but the economic situation you have at the moment is that you might find an owner desperate for a bit of cost recovery who will subsidise the real cost to the customer - until he or she realises what that is really costing them. Your problem is that there are few 'mug' owners at BK these days. Your best bet is to strike up long term relationship with an owner, with mutual respect and trust on both sides. If you are 'known', you might find some owners a little less cautious but the days of turning up off the street, doing a couple of circuits and then chuffing off into the deep blue yonder are long gone on aircraft like that.