Yes, prices are high right now. Over the last couple of years more people have been getting into the outdoor scene and that takes equipment, whether it be hiking, camping or canoeing. With supply line issues, manufacturers are producing less. More demand plus less supply equals higher prices. Look what happened to used car prices in the past year.
I agree with kbobb about getting out there and enjoying life now; we don't know when our expiration date is up. If you want to paddle and don't have a lot of cash to throw at your desired boat, keep an eye out for a used, already scratched but solid Kevlar boat that is made for your genre of paddling. I have purchased three nice Kevlar canoes at $400 or less in the last two years; a SR Tranquility, a Hornbeck Lost Pond 10 (my wife claimed this one as her own) and a Sawyer DY Special. They all have been used, have a few scratches, but they still handle as they did when they were just off the showroom floor and you don't have to worry about putting that first scratch on it!
So when a usable, well priced canoe is found:
1. Get on the phone or email quickly.
2. Get the canoe and paddle it.
3. If you like it, keep it. Clean it up and give it some TLC.
4. If you don't like it, clean it up, give it some TLC, sell it and look for another canoe.
You can watch life or be part of it. Enjoy that next canoe.