It’s because they’ve just spent 3 weeks and $60 in plastic to finally “correctly” print something that cost the original manufacturer $0.15 to print
Sure, but that’s because the manufacturing is working in bulk while the hobbyist is doing a one-off. The original modeling likely cost a comparable amount. It was just amortized out over the production life. And there are plenty of instances in which the $.15/unit manufacturing just doesn’t have the thing you’re looking to make, because it is some kind of artistic eccentricity rather than a standardized widget.
The thing I see 3D printers used most commonly for are TTRPG models. And at that scale, it really doesn’t hurt to just print off a two-headed Owl Bear with a scorpion tail, rather than hunt around on the secondary market for the weird thing you’re looking for. Even the specialty D&D printing services aren’t going to come in much less than $60 for that sort of thing.
Sure, but that’s because the manufacturing is working in bulk while the hobbyist is doing a one-off. The original modeling likely cost a comparable amount. It was just amortized out over the production life. And there are plenty of instances in which the $.15/unit manufacturing just doesn’t have the thing you’re looking to make, because it is some kind of artistic eccentricity rather than a standardized widget.
The thing I see 3D printers used most commonly for are TTRPG models. And at that scale, it really doesn’t hurt to just print off a two-headed Owl Bear with a scorpion tail, rather than hunt around on the secondary market for the weird thing you’re looking for. Even the specialty D&D printing services aren’t going to come in much less than $60 for that sort of thing.