Funny that Apple has gotten itself to the point where a bunch of die-hards are sitting around teasing the company because they can't make a pro desktop setup that costs less than $12,000, and now we're giggling about their perceived inability to make a stupid consumer display for less than the cost of an entire iMac.
How did they get to the point where their two best computers are $999 and $1299, and a frickin' consumer *monitor* might cost as much as their top-of-the-line pro laptop?
Something is amiss. Either Paul has it right and the rumor is boogered up, or Apple has lost their display scruples.
Personally, I think it's the latter.
24" iMac with built-in 4.5K display: $1299
24" 4.5K accessory display: $2499
It costs $1200 to remove the $1300 iMac.