There are several reasons for why item prices have deflated - I'll list
a few:
- no major crashes that would take out eq from the game
- people don't lose eq (much) over reboots like they used to
- items don't break as easily
- more players that are capable of doing low/mid-end eq
- the nametune has reduced demand for items that lack the wielders
name

I agree fully with Shinarae about the matter. The "name on an item" is
not about who owns the item, it's about who did the heroic deed to get
it from a monster/quest, and meant as a reward for those players. I'll
loudly object to any effort to make this somehow purchasable.

++ Gore