In meat space, video cards are still available and don't cost more than RRP

The fact that video cards are sold out pretty much across the board should be all the evidence that people need to know that new NVIDIA cards are on the way -- so it is not really the best time to be building new mining equipment. But what are the options if you actually need a card?

You can pay above RRP to an exploitative third-party Amazon retailer, gamble on reliability and pay near full-price for used equipment on eBay, or you could walk into a computer shop and see what they have on offer. I walked into a store in rural Japan the other day and was surprised to find a relatively good selection of 1070s and 1080s at regular prices. The equipment is still out there, if you look hard enough. Personally, I'll be waiting for the 1100s, but it is good to know that there are options for emergencies.