I don't really understand the 'priced on performance' thing. If you're paying top dollar, Grade 1/G1+/Pro willow prices, surely you should get a bat that looks like a G1/G1+/pro willow bat? (Whatever that is). Otherwise, you're just paying for a Grade 3 which pings, as all G3s should anyway.
I'm not saying grains are important, but it's the only way you can really price bats imo. I think there's a lot of Emperor's new clothes in the cricket bat world and people being sold things on good marketing which they want to believe and sometimes, just straight up bulls*@t tbh. Not meaning anyone in particular here, just in general.