Out of touch with reality?

One of my favourite Saturday morning 'activities' is watching America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country. The thing that always amazes me, though, is the how straight-faced they remain while quoting prices on items they compare. Today, for example, they rated cookware and narrowed down to two of each piece. First, a 12" SS skillet... the best was about $135, and the 'affordable' alternative was over $90. (The 'best' saucepan was even more)! Is it just me? Am I stuck in a Jurassic economic era? Who can afford to pay $100+ for ONE frying pan? (It gets worse... I searched for a pic and found ONE 12" SS skillet for $225! OK, if it's gold and I can cash it in after I'm done cooking, maybe....) I love to cook and I'd really love to have the best equipment, but I balk at forking over that much for a whole set! OK, I'm super-cheap and will wait till the item I want goes to deep discount just to save $10. Hey, $10 can feed my family for a day. But really, should I move on into the 21st century or am I not alone in my dismay?