*In fact only the budget C64 did, and it was an expensive machine in early-1980s...

In fact only the budget C64 did, and it was an expensive machine in early-1980s Britain.

I think you suffered from what I did in Canada at the time, pre-free trade duties. Trade is so duty unencumbered now, comparatively.

The c64 was 2x or even 3x the price in Canada, mostly due to duty, compared to US pricing.

I recall buying a unit in the US, after convincing my parents to smuggle it across in their car...