1 man shops vs, factories
Mud_bone
Take into consideration that the cottage makers are 1 person shops for the most part. I have read that the Jacks contract out their production to local sewers. Making quilts are labour intensive, I know, I've done simple syntheic diy quilts and know how much time each one of those took. Factor in material costs. 800 - 900 fill down is not cheap and neither is the 1.1 ripstop nylon that is used. Gone are the $1.50 per yard Walmart buys. Then there is all of the extra items. for the suspension of underquilts and on and on.
I don't begrudge the cottage businesses a reasonable hourly dollar figure for their labour on top of their product costs. Hammock underquilts are a specialty item. The goods ones have a differential cut and that adds to the complexity.
As you said it comes down to supply and demand. If no one was buying the gear that the cottage makers are providing at a given price point, then we would see a corresponding price adjustment. It's a fact of life that high quality lightweight / ultra light gear costs good money to buy.
This thread is really getting to be off the original topic at this point.
Cheers
Brian