[Mandatum]

eInk/ePaper displays aren't cheap and getting them cheap requires buying pre-loved devices. The only way to drive down costs right now is bulk ordering. Unless your time is worth less than say $25/hr, this is likely much cheaper than building.

[ilrwbwrkhv]

Most people are not really doing anything that important where they need to worry about their per hour time.

[libraryatnight]

I don't really think a person building this would factor wage since it - in my case at least - would be fore fun. That said eink displays are expensive but I feel like one could find one and come in to close to or under the cost of the ArtFrame. https://shopkits.eink.com - has some good options.

Not arguing my aunt would build this, just that a lot of the HN crowd could and often are of the tinkering type to find that sort of project enjoyable :)