Hi Duane, I focus on low volume production so my perspective may be a little different, but I'm constantly battling a lack of prototyping components being available for specific IC chips (recently DVI/ETHERNET/USB/etc). Without prototype quantities being readily available its hard to knock out a new prototype or designs. Hasn't really been an issue for passive components (at least not yet). Having to contact each manufacturer is a lot of effort and time. I would prefer to pick up low volumes from distributors Digi-Key/Mouser/Newark/NuHo/etc.