The problem is question/demand. AC Côte Rotie and Hermitage cannot expand. Their maximum is reached. So, the bottles are very expensive. And I must say, Northern Rhône, for me, still is unique in style.
Hype, hype, and hype. I call it a really good wine but way overpriced. There are recently new regions in the world that offer better wines for fraction of the price like Argentina, Chile, south Australia and Oregon state.
It's a bit apples and oranges though, isn't it? Of the regions you listed, only AUS is particularly known for a Rhône varietal (Shiraz). And Willamette wines are not necessarily any cheaper than Rhône wines.
Do you know how difficult and expensive it is to farm those hillsides? Plus, the appellations are tiny. Price is relative. You can get great quality wine from the regions you mentioned for much cheaper but no, they do not taste like and are not "better" than No. Rhone...
