I've seen Model 1s go for more than $90, and just this week a mudbucker went for 100 (the NOS one in the shrink pack is still only 185). Things fluctuate, but they're in the same ballpark.
Anyway, I was not commenting at all on what's the better. I have heard both positive and negative things about the Model 1, but not actually used it myself. Versatility can be a good thing, but the mudbucker is the tops at a certain thing - if that's what's desired there's no beating it.
It just sunk in reading this thread about the 1.2k output of the Epi bucker. That's, like, stupid low right (even compared to a single coil)? I wonder if that is due to some attempt to tame the mud on the repro where they put the coils in parallel vs series. From what I recall (I ripped one out of an Epi EB0 and replaced with 70s mudbucker for a friend) the wiring is exposed and it could easily be checked or rewired for series if the above is indeed the case. That should give it some (more) teeth. ... but the transformer idea was brilliant [tips hat].