The overwhelming tendency on this discussion forum is to be cheap/frugal/cost conscious . Many of us came from the days when we build our own clubs and a decent driver head could be bought be in the $100 or less range and if you wanted to play a cheaper clone/knock off even under $50. As such we don't really like the cost being charged for new drivers and many if not most don't and won't pay that. I have only ever bought 2 new OEM drivers ( Taylor Made 320 ti) and most recently a 917 with upgraded Diamana ltd edition shaft ( shaft goes for $400 Canadian alone) I paid $200 Cdn for it this fall from my club pro.
I've played OEM drivers for the past several years years and always buy them used ( often just the head) and use them a year or so then sell them for pretty much what I paid for them ( even more) so it's a no brainier. My last was a Ping G that I bought for $250 used 2 season and sold for $220.
That said there are tons of people who like to upgrade their gear regularly ( some every year) and have no issues paying rack rates, just like some folks get a new car every 3 or 4 years . If they can afford to do it and want to, it's their money.
as for the cost of clubs these days? Lot's of different features on driver heads that add to the production cost and so I am sure it costs more than the old days when a head could be made for under $20. Also most offerings are using " upgraded " shafts whereas in the past made for shafts cost $5-6$ to make. This doesn't add up to $500, but with inflation everything costs more now a days ....just look at at the price of meat compared to a few years ago.
I wouldn't pay $500, I don't really like paying $250 but at least at that price I wont lose half my investment. If I make a component club, then outside of the aftermarket shaft which I can probably recoup a few bucks for, the investment will be pretty much a write off.