i doubt its got anything to do with retirement, IMO it is more because of the price, $159 is a hell of a price for any modular, the general consensus is its one of the poorer modulars from lego but who knows its value might skyrocket like the town hall
regarding todays myer sale the stories i have heard about single people pushing warehouse trollys and scooping up half the stock is just disgusting, best way to combat it is not support the reselling market, but its easier said than done