I returned to the game after some time of playing and taking brakes. I actually missed totally the Hunters block era and this is quite the point, where you really has to think twice.
I currently have 4 copies of 100% 1-3, 99% of 4-6, 75% of 7,8,10. I am around halfway of complete playsets in 11-13. Hunters, RoS and T&D would be nice, if I would have at least one set of each, but even at prices which Fingolfinwe mentions, it is hard to get it. Foils are also getting unpleasently expensive and out of stock everywhere, especially things like fellowship companions, nazguls etc.
And finally, I am also from Europe. You can automatically add 20% for VAT + shipping on all purchases, as European market is dry at this moment.
If you really want to get some cards, you should be patient and start with some big drop ebay auction. There was one with 2000 rares (from sets 1-10 mainly) recently. The price climbed to 750GBP though...
PS: as for the price climb - I am pretty sure, that most of the cards climbed up a lot! Both for sealed booster boxes and for individual cards. I remember buying top rares like
Saruman KoI for a dollar 5-6 years ago...