What's the best set, in terms of bricks-per-dollar?

I'm posting this partly out of curiosity and partly because I might find the set on ebay and give it to a kid I know:

In your recent memory, what's the best LEGO set you know, in terms of # of bricks per buck.

(A Star Wars set might have 3,000 pieces, but honestly I think the money just goes to Lucasfilms.) If possible I'd like to learn about

Thanks!

me