I am not cheap, Rick, I am frugal.
I really do watch cost. I just have to make a decision whether the expected results are worth the additional price. I know, you are not into growing orchids, and they are my real passion. It was hard for me to begin to use (inexpensive) cypress mulch in place of (expensive) Douglas fir bark. Douglas fir bark has been the industry standard for many decades. Some of the major orchid nurseries have begun to switch as well.