I can't agree with you more, however if you don't also grow and malt your own barley and grow your own hops too, then you also will end up buying from AB or be affected by AB leveraged distributors, Morebeer and Northern Brewer are owned by AB now. AB now has leverage on your malt supplier. If they ask the homebrew supplier for a break on malt cost, who do you think picks up the slack. That's right it is your homebrew supplier, unless you shop with Morebeer or Northern Brewer in which case your brewing cost will only go up 25% instead of 50% if you shop off brands. Congratulations!
Pricing doesn't really work like this...