The link earlier in the thread to the quebec supplier has 'introductory special' labelled in the price. I just went and checked, it has popped up very recently at island eyepiece too now.

http://www.islandeyepiece.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=641&cat=Skywatcher+Dobsonians#

Looks like the suggested retail is going to be 999. Even at that, 12 inches of f/5 on a mount, reasonably portable, under a thousand. It's an interesting combination of telescope and price point.