I definitely understand the issue with being worried about something ending up too difficult. YCHs are a good way to stay in your comfort zone and ensure that you are up to the task of what you are drawing - plus the person buying the ych has a solid preview of what they will be getting.
On the other hand, it can also be quite helpful to try and carefully step out of your comfort zone every now and then. Maybe you could take the approach of making a super rough pose sketch of a commission first before accepting payment to see if you are able to fulfill the order. If not, then nothing is lost.
But of course, if you would rather stick to ychs that is perfectly fine as well!

As for pricing, that has always been a tricky topic. From my experience, an artist's popularity/renown often plays an equal - if not higher - factor than the quality of the art when it comes to what people are willing to pay. Similar to the themes that people are interested in. People tend to chase current trends/fads/memes/etc. so even high quality ychs that do not fall under that current trend might end up not selling.
Is the economy bad? Hard to tell. It feels to me like the art budget of people tends to vary extremely. I spend quite a bit on art when I can, but compared to some of the big spenders here, that feels like chump change, haha.
In the end, art is an individually created non-essential product, so there's no hard and fast rule how much exactly it should cost. It is up to each artist to figure out their comfort zone between not underselling and charging what they are worth.

Hi there! First off, I just want to say your art is incredible. If anyone dislikes it, that’s on them because art is, at its core, a form of personal expression. Artists create in their unique style and vision, and that should always be respected. If someone doesn’t like the style, the simple solution is not to commission the artist—it’s as straightforward as that.

Now, regarding pricing—it’s definitely a tricky topic. Quality art absolutely deserves its price, much like any other high-quality product or service. From my own experience, I often have to pass on YCHs or commissions I’d love to purchase simply because they’re out of my budget. Many artists set their prices at $100 or more, which is entirely fair considering the time, effort, and skill involved. However, with the current economy, affordability can be a real challenge for many. It’s a tough balance between valuing the artist’s worth and finding a sustainable price point for clients. It raises the question: is it better to charge less and get more frequent commissions, or to charge more and cater to a smaller audience?