A thought: The multiple between CEO pay and lowest-wage worker pay within a given company, is much higher than it used to be. Is the same true between what is considered a high-end or at least quality built bike, and entry level? As the number of companies explodes and quantities dwindle for even the largest companies, it is natural that everyone is chasing the most premium and profitable market. Until few to none are buying into that market. Further, like other corporate CEOs, those in biking may also be making decisions based on short term profitability and not long term market share and customer satisfaction.

I'm not at all a fan of Wallymart, but from a thread on their bargain gravel bikes, they seem to be offering quite a value for entry level at quality that is above what they had typically sold in one-adult-size bikes. Market-based pricing. My only gripe is that everything is made in China; I'd like to see bike manufacturing for everyday bikes come back to the USA.