[m00n]

Maybe it really is a cultural difference. I think there is a continuum of valuations at work here:

If a contractor gets his materials cheaper or does have cheaper labor available, I don't see any obligation or market process to pass these savings onto clients, when the work is of the same quality.

On the other hand, when you delegate work to an expert, and he doesn't tell you about the 99% savings you could employ with existing technologies, I feel this is bad conduct, regardless of output. It just amounts to a 9900% markup on his value. I don't think this kind of markup is ethical, but probably the market will catch up to this expert and revalue him.