Is it just me or does $100 for an Aran seem absurd for what it is?
I don't think so - I think they were underpriced before. My Petes (all entry level ones) are all great smokes, the equals of my Ashtons, Dunhills, etc., just with a couple fills and minus fancier stemwork and banding. They're a reliably well-engineered pipe. And unlike many $50-$75 pipes, they're also decently sized - many of those cheaper pipes consistently come in under 3/4" in bowl diameter and look flimsy next to a Pete. Also, since Peterson sells a good number of higher-graded pipes as well, you could often find some very nice grain in their lower lines if you were lucky and/or patient. I have two Arans - a 606 Pot and a 69 Bent Billiard - with outstanding grain but one or two very minor fills that must have disqualified them from being Spigots or Sherlock Holmeses or whatever. I felt those were a steal at the ~$75 I paid for them new a couple years ago, but I'd buy a comparable pipe for $100 just as readily. Even at the new prices, I don't see other classic, English-style pipes offering the same value. Even a BC or Chacom costs close to $100 now, and I don't think they're nearly as nice as Petes are. Ashtons or Ferndowns are considerably nicer than Petes, but they're in a whole different price class than the $100 entry-level ones.
I guess the company felt the same way. Probably they were pushing the capacity of their operation, were selling through a ton of stock, and figured the demand was there for a price hike. But I'd love to hear any hard details if anyone knows them - I've been curious about this for a while. I can't say I'll be buying as many Petes as I used to at the new prices, but I think that a nice example of an Aran or Donegal Rocky is still worth the price at $100.