Yup, just had to exchange my Optimus V at a Target in San Diego (it kept restarting, even completely stock), and was surprised to see that Target had raised it to $199 as well. Luckily I was able to exchange the phone without paying the difference. Supply and demand at work!
Yea.. I was going to get one at RadioShack and they've gone up to $199 too form the $149 it was before :/ ... Got one for $129 at BestBuy for my wife. I didn't know then I should have grabbed 2!
I think it is related to the huge demand for the phone.
The word got around quick, there are a lot of people that waited for a plan like Sprint/VM for $25.
I was one of them, I liked the deal so much I picked up 2 of them.
Could not be happier with the phone and the plan, lets hope the plan stays in place.