Answers from the .500 Guru:
Price:
The distributors pay S&W a few cents under $625 for the .500.
Dealers pay distributors $650-$665, depending on the distributor.
Retail is $987 (I think) and many dealers are splitting the difference between retail and dealer cost (~$800) to deposit-in-advance customers, to build business and goodwill.
IMO if retail were $2000, the gun would be worth it. This thing is the Real Deal, almost THREE TIMES AS POWERFUL as a .44, the most accurate revolver I've shot, and has a lifetime warranty.
Recoil:
The Sorbothane grips are amazing. With top loads, the gun is no more unpleasant to shoot than a 6 1/2" M29 with wood grips shooting 275s @ 1350. The gun recoils a LOT harder, but with the Sorbothanes it doesn't hurt any more than the .44. Watch that the cylinder latch doesn't bite you.
The only .454 I shoot is the Taurus, and it too has very good grips for recoil, so I can't say the .500 is "better" in that department than the .454, if you're asking about a comparison to the Taurus.
Go to
http://www.john-ross.net/recoil.htm
for some interesting recoil info.
Answer to Poohgyrr:
The longest bullet that will fit in a Starline case without the base of the bullet getting into the thicker part of the case and bulging it so it won't chamber is 1.400"
This translates to a 725 grain bullet with a .460" diameter flatpoint for hunting, or a 650 grain semi-pointed for long range work. With my 650, my top loads went 1280 FPS @ 58,000 PSI in S&W's pressure gun. This load goes 1233 in my revolvers. I am loading my 725 to 1100 FPS in my revolvers, at slightly less pressure.
As a final note, go to
http://www.john-ross.net/betrayal.htm
for an article I wrote that you may find relevant.
John Ross
.500 S&W--The Springfield Sledgehammer