Yeah, I agree $70k is a little gut-wrenching for a Jeep, but I think when you look at the difference between a nicely equipped 5.7 hemi and the SRT, the additional $20k for the SRT starts making sense. I'm no expert on all the differences, but motor, wheels, drivetrain, suspension, interior, and bodywork changes easily add up. So assuming the $20k difference between the 5.7 hemi and the SRT is justified, the only way the SRT is overpriced is if the starting point (the 5.7 hemi) is overpriced at $44k-ish. Based on it's competition I'd say it's fairly priced.
I gotta believe there will be a price increase for the MY 2014 just from adding the 8 speed (even though it should have been there all along).
I can't speak for others, but when I add up receipts for my mildly modded 2008 GCSRT, $70k doesn't look like too bad of a deal...and I am nowhere near some of the mods others have done.
I guess I'm just saying that most people think things cost more than they should...whether you're talking cars, home renovations, video games, etc. But when you try to build it yourself, as many of us have, those numbers start making more sense.
Fun cars are just stupid levels of money. The SRT is for better or worse one of them.