As an even clearer heads-up: there aren’t really “plugins” that convert grid data to MIDI, inside Ableton: there are Max4Live apps that talk directly to the grid, and are designed specifically for it. You’re not going to get deep-integration like you do with a Push. It’s a very different paradigm. Have a look at the list of applications in the docs - some of these are specifically for M4L, rather than standalone Max.
Regarding distribution: the only place to buy monome equipment new is direct from monome in the US.
Duty is largely tax on purchase that you’d pay anyway - US customers would pay sales tax according to state laws, for instance. There’s an overhead in terms of import tax, but you’d be paying that anyway if you purchased it from a distributor in Europe. You’d just see a larger price that you give entirely to the distributor. monome gear is made and sold in relatively small runs, so there isn’t really the savings via distribution that there are for Yamaha or Korg, Arturia or Novation. If you think it sounds expensive: this is the reality of being a small manufacturer and supplier in a globalised marketplace. No-one is forcing you to buy things.
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