Do I understand it correctly that the case pictured above is actually $499, and the economy case is the one that retails for $299?
Yep saw that too.
This is noob marketing because it turns people off because individuals are essentially being misled.
"Starting at $299" and showing a picture of the 499$ model. The 299$ model is a shell with nothing. Might as well buy your own server chassis for 80$.