it seems like i should've invested a couple of years back when they were £15..... holy crap they got pricey. Where are people sourcing them nowadays?
Depends which model you are after, but check out Wiggle, CRC (especially if you have BC membership), Ribble etc.
Shimano hiked their prices up to urine extracting levels recently, as a result of the weakened squid.
£32 is cheap enough
[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-Deore-XT-CS-M770-Cassette-Sprocket-Silver-9-Speed-Gear-11-34T-Tooth-Bike-/321680474454?hash=item4ae5a68156:g:rHcAAOSwvgdW3VXM ]link[/url]
Shimano didn't change their prices. Exchange rates did that. Yen vs £ shat the bed.
Not really sure what you're on about OP, HG50 (Deore) is still only £15-20 depending on exact model, XTs are normally about £30-35 but then XT was always more expensive anyway.
Brexit innit.
Shop about and you can get one for £12-15, of course lots of people will turn their nose up at an HG50 or bellow...
Of course the technology hasn't really changed much, just the number of sprockets, why would they want to charge loads less for an XT cassette if they don't have to, they'd rather you bought a whole new groupset.
Sunrace have a range of 9 speed cassettes for cheap
and Sram fits and works fine, were often cheaper when I was shopping for cassettes.