I went to Mr.lights once because it was not very clean, the women were not attractive to me & they were MILFy and they were all the way out in Flushing. I live in Manhattan so when you factor everything in even at 140 it was not worth it to me.
Some guys like the seedy atmosphere, I can imagine that being the case, the hobby is about appealing to the different psychologies and fetishes. That goes for the looks too, I can imagine some guys digging the older women. It is all a matter of taste.
For me it was never about just busting a nut in a no hold's barred situation. For example the BBBJ was not my thing, I prefer to play it safe. For me it was about being with an attractive woman who was pleasing to all of the senses and who carried herself in a pleasing manner too. Then it was about living out fantasies of being with a particular woman who reminded me of a friend's wife or something. I would hold on a week to forgo the cheap nut and treat myself to something nice. But we all know price is not everything, you could pay less and actually have a nicer experience sometimes. So it is way to simple to think everyone thinks alike or wants the same thing. If I had a choice between two places that were clones that were right next to each other and one charged less of course I would go for the cheaper clone but each woman and place is different and that is why we keep in the hobby until we find someone we just want to repeat with again and again for whatever reasons.
Comparing prices from different decades overlooks inflation.
It always must be adjusted.
Here's a link to an inflation calculator.
http://www.westegg.com/inflation/
Adjusting for inflation
What cost $120 in 1980 = $309.64 in 2008.
What cost $200 in 1995 = $279.95 in 2008.
What cost $200 in 2008 =$142.88 in 1995.
What cost $200 in 2000 w= $247.70 in 2008.
I think the $200 price has been around for a long time without adjusting for inflation. Nab made a good point about the Won being down compared to the dollar perhaps allowing these businesses to charge a decade old price today.
My 2 cents,
TB