Jerry - I think a lot of the problem has been that, until relatively recently, it has been quite difficult to get hold of a decent instrument without paying the earth. Logic might suggest that because its around half the size of a guitar, a mandolin should be half the price. Experience, however, demonstrates that you have to be paying at least twice as much for an equivalent mandolin as you would for a guitar. The reason for this is largely down to the higher degree of accuracy needed in the build and set up of the instrument. Get the intonation a shade out and it sounds twice as bad as it would on a guitar. Consequently, there aren't many shops who stock mandolins in a significant quantity - I can only think of one shop that has more mandolins than I do!

Mark - how easy is it to get hold of ball end mandolin strings? My GBOM uses ball ends and I have to get custom sets made up. Fortunately there is a very accommodating string manufacturer not far away from me.