He was comparing it to the NU1.

To my mind, the only reason I would spend so much money for a DP, would be because living in a condo and not bothering the neighbours. That kinda defeats the idea of spending almost double the price for an N2 vs. an N1, if you're gonna play 95% of the time (or more) with headphones.
I've played the N2, and sure, it is a more enticing instrument, but I'm completely happy with my N1 purchase. I do agree, the speakers in the N1 is probably its biggest achilles heal (very dependent on the room's acoustics), but I hardly ever use them anyway.
The keytop difference is really minimal. The keytops of N2/N3 are still inferior to a HQ acoustic grand anyway. I was impressed by the vibrating keys at first, when you quickly realise that it matters very little in day-to-day practicing. You need to also practice on acoustics anyway, in addition to your AvantGrand..

On the other hand, if you're loaded with money..why not get the N2? I assume that is not the case, because then you'd just go ahead and get the N2 anyway. So my advice is to get the N1.

It's called "Corporate Greed" here in America.

K.

Thanks guys, appreciate all the opinions coming in!
The electronic movement detector surely seems interesting. I'll look into that.

Concerning grand action: Yes, I missed the grand action on the N1 and N2 when I played the NU1. The NU1 doesn't have grand action, as has been explained here.

And I agree. It is completely ridicolous to charge double the prize for the N2 compared to the N1. Perhaps prices are going to go down, what with the financial crisis and all? And it's been a while since the N2 was introduced.

From the technical aspects 20% more for the N2 compared to the N1 would be justified. All what is above can only be generated due to better quality - otherwise the dealer should be able to give it away for a much better price.

20% more? Here in Norway the list price of N2 is almost twice the price of the N1. 107,000kr vs. 62,000kr (1 am.dollar = 5.7 norw. kroner)

My fellow Americans will always complain about prices and always want the lowest price but forget that other countries might charge a 25 percent import tax and a 21 percent VAT.

On the other hand, the roads are nice over here.

As someone has already said ... a thing is worth whatever someone pays for it. If someone paid 107,000 kr for an N2, then it was worth 107,000 kr to that person.

But we don't know whether that person negotiated the selling price. So you might well be able to buy at a much lower price. In high-priced retail good there's usually lots of room for price negotiation.

Karnevil, Dave and MacMacMac,
I used the phrase "would be justified". I know the differences for the displayed prices between N1 and N2 is the same in Germany compared to what you experience in your location. I experience also the Corporate Greed in Germany. Nevertheless I wonder if Yamaha has estalished a relief valve for those sharing this position of oviavio.
See it that way, there are some few people at a lot of companies which are working hard and which are eager to create a nice product and there are some who are doing the job. There are also some who make reputation for the product and raise the price, for which reason ever. In this case you have to pay or to work hard to receive the price you want to have. Sometimes you won't be able to get a better price at all, due to the rules of the market, but you can be lucky because there is competition, isn't it ?