Rare earths aren't so rare... there are plenty of companies/countries to mine deposits. it is just the market is still relatively small, as soon as they go online they tend to cannibalise the market price and hurt there bottom line, There is more than enough deposits outside of China as reserves (30% of current reserves) for the next 30 years at projected growth.... the price might have to double to make it attractive to mine. Magnets are 100% recyclable and science in the element make-up is shifting all the time. The increase in element cost is not a major factor in the cost of car production or wind turbines.... just availablity. The Chinese a playing a good game, by keeping prices relatively low.... The Saudi's of the Rare Earth oil.
The cost of the magnets is a factor, but the cost of lifetime maintenance/ area fees/ regulation etc is where the money goes. More humans are involved with this type of power per Megawatt than a coal fired power station.
