The cost of US proto models outside of the US is usually outrageous - it's not such a bad deal. As an example if I go to my LHS here in Oz, the price is likely to be double what I can get it for online from the US.
Modern n scale locos are stupid expensive on Ebay right now. For instance I wanted to see how much an es44ac would be. Not exactly a rare locomotive since Kato, Fox Valley and BLI make them. Granted, BLI was the most expensive at around 175-200 dollars for one but they're all dcc sound. There were a couple Kato units at 80-90 bucks but almost all the rest were about 120 bucks for a dc powered loco. Some were as high as 150.
why would you pay that in the US?