[tylrprtr]

One other variable I'd like to see studied is the average cost of new releases over time. I have a hunch that this price has been steadily rising in the age of Kickstarter and deluxe editions.

Higher price tag means a stronger urge to justify that purchase with a higher rating.

[svachalek]

I hear this often come up in this kind of discussion but personally I think I tend to the opposite, to have higher expectations of things I pay more for and judge them more critically. It might align with spender vs saver mentality (and granted the bulk of game buyers are spenders by simple statistics).

Would be interesting to analyze but hard to separate from complexity. Although there is an inversion at the upper end, comparing $150 heavy euros to $400 thematic miniature extravaganzas (which tend to a middle weight).

[treesrule]

I don't know that I buy your narrative, but I'd sure like to see price vrs rating (while controlling for other thigns ofc)