I completely understand that EVGA wants to push the hybrid versions of the cards, but honestly what is the reason for not only having a full $60 dollar markup from the 1080 TI SC2 Hybrid but also $50 over the other available hybrid kits from EVGA. As others have noted, there's not any major redesign in the later 1080 TI Hybrid kids, and most have been retrofitting the older 1070/1080 kits to make them work with the 1080 TI's various EVGA models. Wouldn't it make more sense to have a reasonable price on these kits so you actually sell them. I've been waiting almost three months to purchase a hybrid kit for my 1080 TI SC Black but the constant price increase in released kits is going to lead me to go with another solution outside of EVGA products.

I would guess the $10 price increase ties directly to the redesigned shroud to match the nvidia reference blower modeling.

I don't pay taxes. EVGA only charges taxes (in the u.s.) for Florida and California. It's $17 for shipping. So, $187 total.

Yeah, it may seem like it's being critical of prices, but if you don't want to go the route of buying this, don't buy it. I have spent far more money on things that I didn't need. At least this will be helpful.

If you run through life expecting everything to stay the same price, it will probably end in disappointment. If you want to grab a 1080 lot and then hit it with a dremel, it can be done, but realize that if there is a fault with the cooler, you dremeled a paperweight and killed the warranty. I prefer to buy this just so I don't have to worry about the warranty aspect.

Looks nice