I'd even go as far as suggesting the artic is only offered in the BRT-styling so that it streamlines artic production which is a smaller market in the first place.
NABI would be shooting themselves in the foot if they produced an artic bus, but only produced one for agencies looking for a BRT-style bus, and couldn't competitively bid on 'regular' artic orders. Any other BRT- features should be optional. There might be some extra plastic on the exterior of a NABI artic but that might not make it any more expensive than other products. I'm not saying you are exactly wrong with out figures myself. Seattle went with Gillig for awhile, then New Flyer and now, at least for 40' buses, Orion. Was it really a surprise? You could call the New Flyer D40LF order a surprise.
