Having just jumped from Google to Nameheap this is more than mildly frustrating.
edit: apparently this is the result of Verisign putting up their wholesale prices
I've been with namecheap a long long time now. They rarely raise prices and it's usually because upstream costs go up and everyone is raising prices. I'm a happy customer and ain't switching. I don't get bothered for endless upgrades. I only get emails when my domains come up for renewal or on the very rare occasion this happens.