In the past, to make a book, you think of x numbers of S8R, barebone cardboard book, pen knife, spray glue, lamination... If any page goes wrong.... hehehe redo! Way too time consuming and cost ineffective!
Actually, it's what we pay for.
A $58 book wont look like a $250 book. The paper, the medium, the feel are all different.
But given the trend in quick and fast book creation, the price barrier is torn with the aid of technologies for digital prints on cheap paper.
In the end, everyone benefits. Quality wise, it does not matter much for the general public since the trend is moving towards cheap prints.
Main thing is: price, speed and delivery.