This has been a spectacularly entertaining discussion. Thank you all for your honest opinions. I'm going to wrap up my participation in this conversation, having reached my own conclusions with your help.
First though, I can't imagine that in this day and age with Google notifications that Matt hasn't seen, or isn't aware of, this conversation and, quite possibly, has not replied out of fear of being pilloried. It's kind of a no-win situation for him to engage with this thread, but it makes me think that I don't believe there has really been a comprehensive explanation from him, at any time in the past, that covers this topic of his capsule price points with anything that resembles plausibility.
I realize that sounds like a harsh statement to make and I feel like he has given the "cost of having to QC lots of wheat to get to the chaff..." a casual hand wave a few times, but if it were me and my brand, I'd have a dedicated page on my site explaining the value of that work in a way that inspires. (Which would also serve as a real SEO asset as well).
In the past, I recall he has posted about the R&D involved in creating the circuit kits. The time and cost of development deserve to be recouped and the service of providing one with a kit with clear instructions has real value, so I don't begrudge him for what he charges for kits. And if you didn't learn anything building one of his kits, then you might not know what it's like approaching Mic DIY from the perspective of an electronics virgin, which is fine. But you also may not realize that:
MIC PARTS IS IN THE EXPERIENCE BUSINESS.
Not the teaching business. They are selling the "experience" of building something that their demographic will be delighted by when they prove to themselves that "they can do it." It's like that Indoor Sky Diving thing. You pay to have a fun, guided experience and maybe you learn a thing or two, but in the end, you should leave satisfied and possibly wanting more. That's it.
I hope all of us can remember the first time you built something that worked as intended. It's a powerful feeling that transcends the moment, imbuing one with a sense of accomplishment. And the reason I'm fairly certain building Mic Parts kits has created a number of Mic DIY enthusiasts is because I'm one of those people.
So, I'm not here to demean the value of his kits because he's added a "development recoupment and concierge convenience fee" to it.
But what I can unequivocally say is that I'd never buy or recommend any of his capsules at their current price points. If his capsules sold for $99, given their provenance, this conversation would never have happened. But as it now seems that, for the same price, I could buy 3-5 of the same capsules direct from China and do my own QC to pick the best one, I've departed the Mic Parts capsule demographic for good. I just continue not to be a fan of how Mic Parts tries to position their capsules as being of Premium quality when they are, at best, mid-line. That just feels a bit greasy. But I also continue to believe that the inflated price of capsules is their bread and butter and keeps the lights on and if people are willing to pay it, and as long as I'm not forced to, it's no skin off my back.
PS. I kind of vaguely recall hearing that story that Matt had to pay to dispose of a bunch of inventory he couldn't sell, but I seem to think it had to do with damage in transit of a couple pallets of mic suitcases. I don't think he paid 1-800-Got-Junk to cart off a 55 gallon drum of rejected capsules.
But it does beg the question... what happens to all the Mic Parts QC rejects? Do they get resold out there, pawned off by the pound like surplus clothing? What about B-stock where one side of a dual-sided capsule is fine for cardioid only? You'd think a process that yields only a fraction of the inventory worthy of being sold would also create a consistent stream of B-stock, right?
Anyway, again thank you all for playing.