I think there will always be some shutter lag - just more noticeable in some cameras than others.
That is odd that your digitals didn't have viewfinders, I haven't seen many without them (or, maybe you're talking about point-and-shoots here? Not DSLRs?).
The price thing is a little weird...some cameras are holding some of their value. They seem to be making some great strides in sensor technology too - but the recent tech was good as well (really), and this might be why prices are sort of holding too.
Here are some lag time numbers:
Different Shutter Lags for Different Cameras