Intel Core i5-2400 3.1GHz $190 (a bit faster than the i7-960 in anything that
doesn't use hyperthreading, like FSX and all games).
Mushkin Enhanced Essentials 8GB $40 (RAM is cheap)
ASRock Z68 PRO3 GEN3 $115 (nice mobo, solid caps and supports PCI-E 3.0 with a supporting processor)
Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB $60 (this SHOULD be the price of this hard drive when the manufacturing capability is restored after flooding in SE Asia).
MSI GeForce GTX 560 1GB $190 (non referance cooling

)
SeaSonic M12II 520 Bronze 520W $87 (modular and rated at 40 or 50C)
Antec 300 $55
So in other words, the recommended system requirements are pretty common for todays software and only describe a $737 (prices from newegg) system, probably closer to $1000
if you need to purchase things like windows, a screen, a mouse, dvd drive, or keyboard. Of course, by the time MS Flight comes out, the processor I suggested will be obsolete with new processors coming out early next year, so will the videocard with new graphics cards at the start of next year, all of which will knock off a bit of the price.
Not surprising at all.