As one of the developers on the list (Slingstar) I'll throw my two cents in on the $1 vs $2.50 pricing. The vast, vast, vast majority of sales come while you are on one of the four featured lists. The "new releases" one is the only one that you are guaranteed to be on (and I have been on all 4 lists and it also seems to be the most important). However you get bumped off that after 20 games so if you are going to be selling more than 20-35 games a month you better hope you get on the top sellers or to rated. Top sellers is by number of units so a cheap game has an advantage there, and I believe that people tend to take into account cost when they rate things too (this game was totally worth a dollar, 5 stars!). I think a lower price point is optimism showing. People believe that they can claw their way on to the top rated/top sales boards and then stay there, and are willing to do anything to make that more likely.