Limited options

CALL it the iPod factor: Ever since consumers started shelling out $250 for a music player the size of a cheese slice, a steep price tag has been no guarantee of exclusivity. That's why seasonal and limited-edition products have become increasingly popular for the holidays. Once the exclusive domain of high-end retailers such as Neiman Marcus (one-man submarine, painting of your kids in chocolate, etc.), this season finds high-quality, low-availability goods cutting across all price points and categories. Here are some of the best -- and the most outlandish.