Top tier bikes have never been cheap. Imagine paying $7500 in today's money for a bike with 7 speed friction shifters, terrible brakes, and unsealed bearings. Or over $1800 for a singlespeed like one of these:
https://www.dougbarnesauthor.com/2017/03/Wright-Brothers-Bicycle-Description-Options-Costs-1890s.html?m=0