Sometimes people start pretty high only to come way down. Maybe you could post an ad for a Sports with your own price and get someone who's tired of waiting for a collector willing to shell out. Here in NYC I've seen Sports listed for anywhere from about $80 up to $500 or more. Doesn't mean anyone's really spending that much though. You can also drop the seller an email telling them your price range and if they don't get any takers to get back in touch with you.
There are a lot of folks out there on non-Raleigh 3-speeds and they seem to be doing ok, I loved my Columbia Tourist when I was a kid. But I do have a thing for the Nottingham bikes and would try to find one before buying anything else.

happy hunting, Joe

Oh yeah, don't forget there are a lot of Raleigh-made Nottingham bikes under other names: Robin Hood, Phillips, Rudge?, etc. etc..