If I may add my two cents worth at this late date,I don't think they ARE all that expensive.......the high-end models are up there,but not any more than the Collings,Bourgeois,Goodalls,even Santa Cruz[the few I've seen]...where I feel Martin has an advantage is in the lower-end series,in particular 16 series.....a friend has a rosewood dreadnaught that is super for the price,another has a DVM[which I believe is partly laminated]...both sound much beter than current Gibsons,Taylors and Larrivees that I've played,dollar for dollar,that is.....I'm currently trying out a Martin OOO16SGT[12-fret slothead]...amazing little guitar,only about $1000.00 in the states[$1300.00] in Canada.....blows away the two small Taylors I've owned,plus all other small guitars I've seen.......no doubt there are many in Santa Cruz,Huss & Dalton lines,countless others that would equal or surpass it,but,at that price?..I don't think so......Stan Jay[Mandolin Bros.]told me that Martin is "eating eveybody's lunch" when it comes to moderate priced guitars.....guess he knows..
I've had the pleasure of Playing Kendall's Taylor a few times,it's in a class by itself....to my ear,a cross between an old Gibson J45 and an old,seasoned D28,if that makes any sense.......a killer....