I don't buy many miniatures, so a slight increase on the cost per item is not going to make much impact. What has stopped me buying from the U.S. (or anywhere outside the EU), was the 'admin cost' levied by our very own Post Office.
At just under £10 it was about four times the actual duty to be paid, which was then added on top, coming to around 50% of the original value of the order, which had gone over the duty-free limit by £4-5.
If I wanted something badly enough I might go for it again, but I'll be making pretty sure it's an order under the limit.