Which only makes the OP decision to jump so enthusiastically on the price escalator seem even more bizarre. Of course they are far from alone in doing this. It seems like every marketing team for every major manufacturer thinks that a global pandemic is a swell time to significantly jack up asking prices.
Well these decisions are made years in advance really and it always seemed their long term strategy to get into the upper end of pricing, especially since the 7 series.
They know they have a unique selling point in their OS over rival Chinese manufacturers. I'm sure in hindsight, if they had a crystal ball they may have had a different strategy, but Nord also represents part of it to plug the mid range market gap left behind by the new pricing.
I think bar Apple most flagships will suffer this year due a combination of the virus and general apathy towards high end phones. 2020 seems to be the year the midrange will really hit its stride so may see even more exciting offerings come 2021.