Is DDPSDJ really rare though?
350 kits produced according to Shou. There are Cave games that have been produced in smaller numbers.
Wow, I had no idea there were so few. Although fairly immaterial in my case, as I don't see myself ever being able to afford it
Which were the games produced in even smaller numbers?
Arcade releases?
Ibara Black Label
Deathsmiles Mega Black Label
Dodonpachi Daioujou Black Label
Mushihimesama 1.5 Matsuri
Akai Katana??? (I heard this didn't do so well)?
Ibara BL was supposed to be 100 but they did a few more prints so it's probably more like 200. MFBL was officially 150, but they may have made 50-100 more. In any case, both are much rarer than SDOJ at 350, of course.
I don't think they made anywhere near 350 of Pink Sweets or Muchi Muchi Pork either. Probably no more than 200-250. Those games both bombed in the arcades and they are hard to find on the used market these days.
SDOJ prices are goofy. Unlike a really rare board (like Akai Katana Home Edition or Mushi Matsuri 1.5), its current going rate is wildly over-inflated for a relatively recent game. I suspect part of it is the idea it is Cave's last arcade game, but if/when they release another (and don't count this possibility out, trust me), prices on SDOJ may take a slight to moderate dive.