If you do the math - per yard - Aurifil is cheaper than most Mettler and Gutermann I can buy. It just looks like you're getting less because the thread is thin and the "core" is thinner than the other 2 brands.
I've done the cost analysis - Mettler and Gutermann come in less expensive than King Tut but otherwise is more expensive than Robison Anton, Aurifil, MasterPiece, Connecting thread and Coats and Clark.
So, if it's more expensive and lintier and problematic (another recent thread) - why buy these brands and encourage the manufacturers to continue to put out a substandard product?