If you go to the thread "5 Favorite Japanese Maple Cultivars" you will see this cultivar rates at the top of many people's lists, including mine. Mine is around 7 or 8 years old and just reached 6' this year. For an urban area--I'm in NYC suburbs--the price is probably normal, and yes it is high, especially compared to the people on the west coast. But larger, well formed trees are expensive. The form, leaf shape and size, flowers and fall color are all outstanding. The spring emerging growth is also very interesting. Enjoy.

This variety is usually priced a little higher than other varieties because it is unique in that it has a leaf form unlike other japanese maples. The price seems a little high, but not out of line. It sounds like a very nice specimen from your description.
I got one of these in a one-gallon from a big box store. It was mislabeled and I was the first to realize that, so I pounced. It was 12 bucks. See, it does help to study your maple books!
If your neighbor's maples are thriving, yours should do fine in a proximate location.

thanks for all the help! We got the tree and planted it last week. Looks just great - we are very pleased. We got some help from the local extension service on assesing the tree and asked for and got a longer warranty from the nursery. We are now trying to pick out two more trees for the front yard - paperbark maples and another japanese (need one that goes to 20 feet or higher if possible)

david