Yeah, that I'm not the one making all of the money...
Its competitive pricing. How many would they sell at current exchange rates with the competition hovering at $500-700? The US is a big growth market, with large pockets to afford such a device if priced competitively. Since Nokia doesn't get many subsidies from carriers, pricing is major.

The Euro markets aren't growing as fast and are saturated at the moment by comparison. Don't feel bad. I used to make $22.75 per hour working for Dell Corp as a help desk tech in the late 90's. They shipped my job to India and pay my replacement $6 per hour. Why Indian university grads allow such undervaluing of talent is just as big a niggle, but hey. When in Rome...
If they follow your convention, they won't sell many in the US. As they're doing it, they're selling quite a bit. Building a brand by conceding profits is a wise move Nokia is lucky to be in the position to absorb. It costs money to make money. Nokia is rebuilding its brand in America. The moves are working, too.