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This printer uses photolithography vs FDM used by reprap and makerbot - it works by using a laser to solidify photopolymer. These printers are capable of very high resoltion, but the downside is that their substrate can cost hundreds of dollars / liter.

Current cost for the Form 1 substrate is ~$150/liter.

And a quick check shows ABS filament at about $40/L.

And 4 pounds of small ABS pellets from ebay is $15.

You're paying for higher resolution.

Materials for stereolithic 3D printers, like Formlab's, cost 4 times, from what I've heard, as much as conventional 3D printers.

I'm a Kickstarter backer of this; I have the original Makerbot Replication, and decided on this instead of Makerbot's 2.0 version due to the higher precision (25 microns) of the Form 1 version.

What are you making with your Makerbot?

3D prototypes before having them made at larger scales with injection molding.