Smart and honest enough to know how it works

Elvis Costello opines on his site that "the absurdity of the price set by his label on "The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook," a live CD and DVD combination priced at $262.46 ("either a misprint or a satire")" is reason enough not to buy it. He notes that his music label refused to budge on the price, and recommends that his fans instead get a Louis Armstrong set called Ambassador of Jazz. He adds, "If on the other hand you should still want to hear and view the component parts of the above mentioned elaborate hoax, then those items will be available separately at a more affordable price in the New Year, assuming that you have not already obtained them by more unconventional means.

In other words, he is acknowledging that the ridiculous price will likely motivate people to download the music for free.

Smart man, that Elvis Costello.