Pi is dead. $300 for just the board
Yes except...
https://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?fq=brand:Raspberry+Pi
Pi 5, 16GB RAM - $279 USD
Pi 5, 8GB RAM - $169 USD
Pi 5, 1 GB RAM - $43 USD
You make it sound like there's no way to spend less, especially for a project like a cyberdeck running linux.
And to @nobodysreadingthis@quokk.au , they didn't get bought -- they split up the training and learning non-profit part of the business from the product sales for profit side of the business. Call that what you like but to me, it was OK. I think they're still doing what they can to serve the need for their super educational SBCs around the world.
Maybe cut them some slack, ppl.