In my area R410a jugs are still about 10 to 20 dollars higher than a jug of R22. Prices swing from distro to distro so I always call around.
RE: Dry R22 Units
I guess it's a numbers game. If manufactures think producing and selling these units is good for business they will continue to do it as long as the law allows. If by chance it dawns on someone that they are killing their whole house change out market...perhaps they will gear down on the production of R22 units.
I sale these dry shipped units, actually we've sold several of them where compressor sales or whole-house change outs would have went last year but that's the way it goes.
If I don't offer a dry-shipped unit price my competitors surely will and lets be honest when it comes right down to it most home owners care about cooling and don't get bogged down on the details of efficiency. When they are burning up all that matters is to get cooled down.
I am of the opinion these dry shipped units are boosting sales of smaller contractors who don't have near the overhead of a company my size or larger. In previous years these contractors would have had little choice but to punt in-lieu of no time and lack of a true install crew and the home owner would call around to find a contractor that is more geared for change outs. That's not happening as often right now, or at least that is what I'm seeing so far this summer.
"Gentlemen. You can't fight in here. This is the War Room!"-Dr. Strangelove (1964)