Yeah, I do think price has a lot to do with it - even more so for "casual" buyers. For example, our local Target has stocked the Cad Bane wave of CW three times now, and quite a few of them are still on the pegs. Granted, it is CW and that maybe doesn't have as large of a collector base, but it has been pretty rare where I've seen a "new wave" sit at all. It is usually gobbled up in a day or two at most, aside from possible repacks. Heck, I still saw Cad Bane on the pegs a few days later (gone now), which you really wouldn't expect with a character like that.
The prices, in combination with just the sheer amount of product doesn't help things any. Sure, we don't have to buy it all, but many buy most of it and already have a room or storage facility full of toys to begin with. I think a slower pace (and the lines being spaced out better throughout the year) would help too. I've often used the example of the POTJ line, where we had nice waves throughout the year and around 40-50 figures total. I guess when I look at the CW or TLC lines individually, we'd still have that (about 54 TLC basic figures this year I think, even less than that of CW), it is just that when they're all jammed on the pegs together - along with "Legends" - it starts to become a mess. Add to that this pattern of seeing 75% of the product from August to December (also prime holiday shopping time), many people don't have the budget to keep up (myself included).
Prices are what they are. I doubt they are going down anytime soon, and that stinks, but like it was mentioned SW really isn't out of line with the other 3 3/4" lines anymore. Heck, it is even cheaper than both Joes and Marvel Universe stuff here locally, which for some reason are both over $8 in many places. I guess a good question to ask is when was Star Wars collecting the most "fun" for you? I've said it before that I think the actual figures we get today (TLC in particular) are some of Hasbro's best work. From that side of things, I like the current crop the best. At the same time though, I don't know that it has ever been as much "work" to collect as it has been the past couple years. So much stuff, often in a very short release-window, coupled with higher prices and competition within the brand for peg space makes it a little tougher to find things. I remember having a good month or two to find the "new wave" during the POTJ days, but now - particularly with most Legacy waves - you better try to get it when you see it.