yep tough call to make even if they were making the Yamiya repops.
even if it were cheaper to buy them from the manufacturer, they really would need to pack it well to be in transit for that long. even if insured, making a claim etc, would it be worth paying the extra and buying straight from yamiya for peace of mind?
I know Yamiya have been known to have sales on these pipes - I bought a set over a year ago now when they were on sale. Maybe they would consider a group buy discount for a similar price?