I think OP has a valid point.
as someone who was out of scrapbooking for a while, coming back prices are higher. however, you do get a lot for your money in a kit.
What I appreciate now, however, is that designers often break up the kit into components. I've been spreading my dollars out further by focusing on themed elements and then assuring I have a good pile of essential items that I can use over again. If you look at
what I got with the bingo coupon this month, it was mostly element packs that I can use with papers I already have. I have a HUGE collection of element packs, paints/splats, basic paper packs and then I change them up with themed elements.
To me, this is the best of both worlds. Kit scrappers can get their kits/bundles for a good deal, and non-kit scrappers like me can pick out just the pieces we want most - and then buy lots of them! lol.