It's an image thing for me. Why settle for a $6 crankbait, when I can use a $20 crankbait.

Keep your $20 crank bait

So I can beat you with my rebel craw... =)

All this cost of expence and no one has mentioned the roman mother or 3:16 baits. Do swim bait guys just accept the cost of doing business or are they just so far out there people don't even look. I will never buy one but many do.

I don't think swimbait users are far out, that's the genre they prefer and many seem to enjoy it.  I'm not against it all, but for me there is no interest.  The waters I fish are not the most conducive for those kinds of lures, I don't care to use a heavy needed rod to cast them.  I've got my niche, when it comes to bass fishing a $10 xrap is about my limit.

I like free lures. I found a Storm  Rattlin Thin Fin off an exposed stump last year. This lure is all chewed up. It was a favorite of somebody . Its got brand new hooks now and waiting to be put back into action .