Bauhaus has periodic specials and they also partner up with other 3D software providers and offer special "bundle" pricing. SONY evidently decided to charge "full boat" for higher profit margins.
Yes. But now it seems like they completely changed their product line (at least the naming) and their pricing.
There is no product "Mirage" no more. There is a "Mirage Studio" which to me seems like being the former "Mirage" and there is a "Mirage StudioPro" which seems like being a bundle of former "Mirage" and "Board-o-Matic".
And if "Mirage Studio" actually is former "Mirage" then even the price completely changed. 395,00 Dollar is a special price, yes. But the regular price now is 449,00 Dollar. Both miles away from the Sony offer of 625,00 Dollar.
Mirage has been "Mirage Studio" since version 1.5, actually. "Mirage Studio Pro" adds Boardomatic2 (a storyboarding plug-in) and Animator's Toolbar (various utilities, some of which are handy for all users, not just animators) plus a few other little tweaks.
I beleive the attractive new pricing is (or will *very* soon be) available through Sony, as well.