My eldest son loves this succulent fruit and so I keep an eye out for it when reasonably priced, and you're right, it's rather pricey but we enjoy it's delicate flavor a few times a year. Most major grocers have it and if I am lucky, I can land a bag of two slightly blemished imperfect fruit for $4 each.
Plenty of Asian grocery stores here sell it, keeping prices tolerable.
Delicious just by itself is how we most often enjoy it chilled before opening.
Maybe served on top of whipped cream on an angel-food cake cup.
Legend has it that Dragons usually have a in their possession a fiery pearl of wisdom or of other valuable trait. An opened fruit somewhat resemble that pearl in most Chinese illustrations.
!LADY