999 is the number your bank manager dials if you buy one.
There's no doubt that this device will be overpriced, especially the 64GB version. If Nokia can charge over £400 for the X7, who knows what they have in mind for the N9. :/
Same for Verkkokauppa.com in Finland -- they offer pre-order for 999.90EUR. It is normal practice, though, for all new products where Verkkokauppa is not sure about actual price and availability date.
So in conclusion we still have no idea when or how much we'll be able to buy the device.
Of all the things that Elop should have changed, the "Hey here's a phone you want. We'll release it Soon™ once all that pesky excitement has died down and people have already bought something else" nonsense should have been #1
As others have noted, maybe he's saving that for the Sea Ray...