Value, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. If you like and you use it, it has value. Just like a drill, a barbque, and Harley or a vintage car.....I don't think we are exploited by fabric/quilting/sewing anymore that we are by any other item on the market. We can, however, be aware of what we NEED versus what we WANT and be prudent about what we spend our money on. Cheap tools often (not always) result in cheap results. In this economy being a smart shopper is immportant.