"If Swish can be $50 and Flix be around $100 why should Photoshop be over $600 and Flash MX be $500?"

Swish and Flix don't possibly compare to Flash and Photoshop, they're not even the same things.

Flash and Photoshop are two powerhouse programs, they both have extremely strong reputations, large companies creating and working with the releases, and especially with Photoshop-it hasn't been the industry standard graphics creation software for nothing.

Just wanted to point that out.

Take Care,

mg33