So I graduated college in 1975 and got my first professional job at $17,000 a year. I purchased an Electra Bearcat 101, the first true programmable scanner, it cost $399.99 at Lafayette Electronics. Radio Shacks offering of a similar radio made by GRE was also $399.99 and I would have paid more for either radio, it was exciting Space Age Technology.
I consider the government's inflation numbers to be total BS so using a conversion chart doesn't mean much but I'm going to guess compared to today's value of money, in 1975 $399.99 for scanner was probably like paying over $1,200 today, again I would have paid more.
Kind of makes the 436 a bargain.