My Timber was from New Skete stock and I’ve spent time with the monks. Their diligence in screening bloodlines, and the environs in which the breeding, upbringing and training are the very best. $2-3K x dog and a long waiting list are not at all unreasonable, and are comparable with getting a GSD from European stock. They do very, very low volume, and have cultivated a number of repeat customers over the decades.
Not saying they are not fine dogs, but I have had 6 GSD over 45 year and all have been wonderful, strong, intelligent and great family pets. I have no interest in breeding them or showing them and even registration papers are useless to me as they have all been spayed.
Pure bred GSD from German stock are available widely throughout the country and the average price is about $1500.00. In the end all you can really do is pick the one you like (you cannot do that with the New Skeet dogs) and hope for the best. Paying $3000.00 doesn’t in my opinion give you any more in a dog then paying $1500 as long as the buyer does his due diligence.