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There have been tremendous changes in bike technology in the last ten years. Too numerous to enumerate. But one of the most significant is the PRICE of various components - and assembled bikes in general. I pay as much for a new bike seat now as I did for an entire bicycle in my younger years.
Let's not forget our good friend inflation. I'm often amazed at how many old codgers seem to think that the bicycle industry is somehow trapped in some sort of magical time-warp where all prices shall remain the same as they were in 1959, forever and forever (ahhhhmen).
Remember, a few K also used to buy you a brand new car and a 3-2 in the 'burbs could be had for under 20K. Those were the days, right?
The truth is, after over decade in the industry, I actually think that bicycle prices lag behind general inflation. Innertubes, for instance, only very very recently went up (in 2008) after years and years and years at the same pricepoint (when the wholesale cost went up, shops finally had to pass that on to consumers).
The price of technology drops by the year as well. I still remember when buying a carbon-fiber race bike meant dropping at least 5K and an entry-level race-able mountain bike was at least $800. Today? One can buy a race-ready CF road bike for ~2k and race a mtb, out-of-the-box, with disc brakes, for ~$600.
Got a couple of Birias for my wife and I today. $500 each. Nice city bikes; they allow us full leg extension AND both feet firmly on the ground while seated yet aren't "crank forward". Easy for this codger to mount and dismount too. I much prefer them to the Giant and Electra crank forwards we tried as they have a more traditional (and to me more comfortable) posture; they seem better quality too. I wanted to try the Rans CF but no shop in Chicago has them in stock.
Not quite the quality of our Specialized Crossroads Elites but "easier". I like the odd look too.
plaidmom:As far as big-box stores vs bike shops are concerned, I'd say you need to do a little research and find out the specific model names, then compare if the two types of stores have any of the same models. I have no doubt that the big-box stores are only going to offer the lower end of the Schwinn line, but on those they will probably be cheaper. You won't get the same after-purchase support if you need it, of course.
I had a Giant Suede on the way to eventually getting a recumbent. The Suede was mostly a fine bike, but the seat tortured my perineum. That same type of seat is on other crank-forward bikes like the Townie. Rans appears to have designed a seat for crank-forward riding, so a Giant Suede or Townie with a Rans seat may be a cheaper and comfortable alternative to buying a full Rans.
A less well known brand to consider is RANS. I have two RANS bikes and adore them, so I am obviously biased. They are sort of in between a recumbent and a traditional diamond frame. They refer to it as "crank forward". Step through and step down (easy to get a foot on the ground quickly), very light weight, shorter learning curve, more visible in traffic than the recumbent, but a lot easier on hands, wrists, hips, seat and crotch than the diamond frames (or ass-hatchet as some like to call them). When I started looking for a new all purpose bike that didn't kill so much of my anatomy as a diamond frame, I found them.
A less well known brand to consider is RANS. I have two RANS bikes and adore them, so I am obviously biased. They are sort of in between a recumbent and a traditional diamond frame. They refer to it as "crank forward". Step through and step down (easy to get a foot on the ground quickly), very light weight, shorter learning curve, more visible in traffic than the recumbent, but a lot easier on hands, wrists, hips, seat and crotch than the diamond frames (or ass-hatchet as some like to call them). When I started looking for a new all purpose bike that didn't kill so much of my anatomy as a diamond frame, I found them.
The main issue I have with them is being constantly stopped and asked what they are, asked to try them, and where to get one.
Those RANS bikes look nice! I bet they are expensive. I currently own a Giant Suede cruiser and an Electra Gyps 3 speed cruiser, both with forward cranks. I love those bikes, they aren't the fastest, but then I am not riding for speed. Would love to have a RANS for my next bike! By the way, I ride every single day for at least an hour.
I had a Giant Suede on the way to eventually getting a recumbent. The Suede was mostly a fine bike, but the seat tortured my perineum. That same type of seat is on other crank-forward bikes like the Townie. Rans appears to have designed a seat for crank-forward riding, so a Giant Suede or Townie with a Rans seat may be a cheaper and comfortable alternative to buying a full Rans.
I have owned a RANS Fusion and a Cruz. They are nice bikes but their limitations are their long lengths for people who live in places where storage is an issue. They basically are the same bike feel as that of a RANS Stratus in terms of handling and turning. The Street and Dynamik models have a sorter wheelbase with less fork rack and so feel more akin to the Townie or Trek Pure in handling.
I find the Townie seat to be much more comfortable and natural feeling than the RANS. To each their own.
Plus the much lower price tag of Townie ($550) vs RANS unless you can find a used one under 1000 bucks.
I ended up buying a sixthreezero EvryJourney 7 speed steel frame for $299, then I saw on craigslist a Electra Townie 21D for $200 and bought it too. Now I get to ride a 7 speed and a 21 speed peddle forward bike before I purchase and ebike next year.
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I'm often amazed at how many old codgers seem to think that the bicycle industry is somehow trapped in some sort of magical time-warp where all prices shall remain the same as they were in 1959, forever and forever (ahhhhmen). 
