Even Dick is not correct:
I am fortunate. I can easily afford the rip off repair cost.
But to kowtow to such dishonest prices means I don't care about the industry I love.
Quite simply Dick is smart enough to smell a scam and whether or not he can afford to pay is totally irrelevant.
Dick has a nice aviation toy box - not sure of the current inventory but is was the 109, a Bell 206, Cessna 208B, Cessna CJ3 and I think another lightie?
He is an astute but generous and proud Aussie, dedicated to rationalising aviation in Australia. He deserves his toys!!
Dick, if RK (or any avionics manufacturer) is unwilling to release their technical data to enable third party repairs, best not to buy their products. As you say, fifty grand is a very expensive 1/4 watt resistor!