In all honesty its also to do with strong australian dollar. (Actually, very weak US dollar, but hey same difference) and price of oil directly affecting the price of shipping parts.
Well, when I have flown it the collective didnt feel like it has a crappy biro-pen type of spring used in the R22 but rather was held there firmly in place and didn't feel like it was prone to wear like the Collective spring in R22. But you are totally right in saying that only time will tell.