We've made plenty, so supply shouldn't be an issue. Like the zero, we're giving it away for free on the front of a magazine as well. - https://hackspace.raspberrypi.org/issues/39

Not true: https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/raspberry-pi-pico

True maybe when it first came out but not so much nowadays. Authorized resellers still have the $5 price but the shipping is “steep”.

Could be but pico might not create the same demand either.