That isn't a bad price for hatching eggs. It would be a cold day in hell and the devil would wear ice skates, before I paid that for chicks though.
If the OE are first gen crosses between the AMs and Marans... no way of proving what color the offspring will lay, their comb, feathered or non feathered legs. I got one OE, first gen cross... that laid a darker egg than any of the other Marans.
It was pretty, but it wasn't olive. Had to get rid of her so her eggs wouldn't be collected with the ones I want to hatch and have me accidentally selling... as far as I'm concerned until they can breed true, barnyard MIX! Lot's of NPIP breeders sell those (allegedly "rare" breeds) around $10. I mean, all of their stock (the person down the road) could even be from hatcheries or may not have been culled for faults like split wing. I got mine all from different breeders ensuring that my parent stock aren't related, cull for ALL faults, and sell for $9 per chick straight run of the pure Marans and Silkies, discounted to $8 if more than 4 are bought. It cost me $1 per egg to produce and hatch, not including my time and not NPIP. Anyways, to me there are very few actually rare breeds. Rare to me means hard to find/get. Not just that it's available everywhere if you are willing to spend a few more $. For example... Lave Orps are everywhere, I used to have two I paid $9 each for, yes from an NPIP breeder who also had Marans, AMs, Lav and Jubilee Orps to name a few. But I CANNOT find Lav or Cuckoo Silkies... ANYWHERE!
Awesome that you've got time to look around and decide what your needs will be! I'm sure the learning between now and then will help you to get your best stock possible, without over paying. That being said, yes I like to keep my business local even if a little higher priced when possible and within reason.
If I do sell hatching eggs... they will $45/ dozen for my pure breed of slightly "more rare" varieties. I haven't decided on a value for the mix eggs. So their price (down the road) is VERY reasonable on that front and would be the way I went if I decided to go with them. Even though you have to buy a bator, the cost would be covered by the difference between eggs and chicks... and you would still have it when chicken math sets in hard!
Anyways just sharing my personal experience and having good conversation. Learning to ask the RIGHT questions of "breeders" is a huge bonus to weeding through "back yard breeders" verses someone who cares and is passionate about the breed they are raising and always seeking to improve their stock and the breed itself. Guarantee nobody's stock is without room for improvement, and if they think so they simply aren't familiar enough with the breed characteristics, are still in the process of learning, or maybe have a poor eye or different definition of what quality is.
I just LOVE chicken adventures! And yes, got my first lesson about people lying about their breeds for $20 each straight run barnyard mix chicks, and drove 45 minutes each way in my gas guzzling Suburban... supposed to be Swedish flower. Shortly after found someone with parent stock from green fire farm, culled for faults, and chicks were ACTUALLY Swedish Flower (now I know what they look like), for $5 each!
The difference in answers given to questions asked made it clear they were not scammers. Yep, those I drove 3 hours each way, and it was worth it... come to find out, she is even a BYC'er. 
Best wishes in ALL your chicken adventures!
Easter Eggers are very interesting birds. 
Therefor they label the chicks as what they are told they are from the hatchery. Some hatcheries DO disclose on their website that their "Ameraucana" are NOT for showing and are simply a "representation" of the breed.
