I am certain you can get Elixers for $14 or so, on the web. That is also what I play for 'em at the local music store here in Dallas. I go look for the link where I found 'em on-line and post it later.

I have had a love/hate relationship with these strings. They only sound pretty good, but they sound pretty good for weeks! This alone makes 'em worth a serious consideration. I hated the feel. They feel small, and they do have a bit of a 'slimey' feel. I found them vey hard to get used to, at first. But I stuck with it because the positives are too strong;

They last for ever and they have significantly reduced the string noise when you move up and down the neck. I agree that it is frustrating when you break one because you cannot buy the strings individually, so in essence you've blown a set - BUT, I've simply gone out and bought a bunch of the ones I usually break (D and G) and use the cheap replacement strings. I end up with a mixed set, but it works.

At the end of the day, expensive as they are - it is cheaper for me to use Elixers - and my strings sound good, longer. For me, they were worth the effort it took to adust to them.