Cost of Edelbrock
These things were $300 10 years ago when they probably sold in a lot higher volume. Just adjusting for inflation, it should be $359. Remember they print money out of thin air....and Edelbrock operates in California where doing anything becomes a lot more expensive.
Keep buying offshore stuff and then wonder why (especially) unskilled jobs don't get a pay raise. Of course the $15/hr min wage is patently insane because it's just going to increase inflation and make US products even less competitive.
In any case, I had used a crosswind originally because I was in college on a magnum head swap engine, it was made wrong and washed my bearings. Bought an edelbrock after that, never had a problem. My friend also has this intake on his 318 magnum for 5 years now and no issues.