Tom Sherman wrote:

one would
expect MTB components and frames to sell for less than the equivalent
road bike components. This is even more apparent when one compares
upright bike prices to the Dark Side, where a Cro-Moly frame bike with
Deore/Tiagra level components will often sell for 2 to 3 times as much
as the MTB and road bike equivalents.

You failed to mention the toothpasty, lawn mower quality welds and
smashed-flat-&-bolted frame details. That stuff ain't free, you know.
;-)

Chalo Colina