Probably a result of manufacturing and distribution challenges due to the current pandemic. I don't think they would limit supply just to protect prices. All sorts of things have been in short supply at one time or another. For example, earlier last year you couldn't get plaster for love nor money!
Look around at any supplier and you'll see that stocks are quite tight if you are after a specific make/model, especially if they are honest about what they have on the shelves rather than the image they want to give you.
If there was any realistic chance of that they would have shipped them in sooner - it would be the end user paying any additional charges which would result in lower says. As it a lot of the manufacturers ship direct from the far east or the production facility to the UK and not through a European hub.