Sorry, was trying to get some mails from Naia concerning Adena prices.
Now I have to apologize for cheap trolling technique. I just can't understand why are you so concerned about the game in general, and prices in particular.
And, if we are to prove some points seriously:
Chapter 1 prices after I bought about 30 codices has escalated to 1.2 - 1.3b. In the beginning of the month.. meaning that it will stay so, unless there's an event dishing them out. So, addition to the NCStore got them more expensive (bought my for 950).
Masteries, the same way, 550, occasional 530 are now 600+. Didn't monitor chapter 1 masteries, but likely trend is the same.
Does it mean that a bunch of ppl bought 10-11 chests, sold them, and, spent that money on a skill enchantment spree? Questionable, but, who knows?
Gem Energies are also grew from 1.2 to 1.5, occasional 1.7. Insanities are gone.
Surprisingly! Greater Runestones from 4.8 got to 13b! (currently only 1 is available - rumors on redlibra?).
Regarding your question:
Like we the situation or not, the message spam tells us that the price for many ppl is ok, even if we exclude ppl like me who buy chests to sell them for Adena. OFC i would like some untradeable 1 NCoin dragon weapon version, crys of dawn, runestones and chapter ones for 1 NC each, but, from the POV of the company, why should they say for 1 NCoin, if they easily sell it for 5k USD? I am not satisfied, you are not, another 2k ppl are not, but, cha-ching sound is there, money is coming, only 5-10 treehuggers protesters are on forums, so, let it be this way.
The E-bay you mention is the same song just as a gameplay extension software (colloquially known as a Z-R*****) - one of the old scandals (heard like 5 years ago on some DanielDefoe podcast - famous communist player) around communist official servers (you know the company) brought up banned players' reports on such matters. The point of that story was that the hosting company not only was aware, but also was "financially interested" in both RMT situations and the gameplay extension software. I am not sure that here it is the other way.
In one way or another, it is a win-win.