That seems counter-intuitive. The collectors and museums will still buy it even if it were massed produced and everyone in the world had one in their pocket. It

That seems counter-intuitive. The collectors and museums will still buy it even if it were massed produced and everyone in the world had one in their pocket. It's just that cool (as far as museums are concerned). If your goal is to have something that could be found after some catastrophe (or by future archaeologists), then obviously more are better. But I guess (as you point out) if your goal is to have something that will spend 500 years in the Smithsonian on display, rarity is a good thing. Either way, I imagine the high price has more to do with the cost of making them than marketing. ;)