You're right, they've raised the price! I posted the initial $2.99 price, and that was the price then, but it's gone up. Worse, I didn't buy it then!
(And yes, I do expect to read it again, regardless of whether it wins. But no, I won't buy from BN ever. Their DRM is invidious and more bother than it's worth. At least with Amazon and Kobo it's trivial.)