The cornerstone of the capitalist system is: willing buyer, willing seller.
The concept of exclusivity and cost exists in most places, from fine dining restaurants to golf courses.
Does carnoustie do anything magical to their links that justifies the difference in cost to a local club? Not really but they are packed.
Is Dinner by Heston justified for charging what they do for a roasted pineapple? Definitely not, but they are also full.
No one forces any one to go to these places.
Yet when I go read internet reviews of a high-end restaurant there will be 1-star reviews.
The most common one is from the bloke that has had a terrible time and taken them apart not because the food was average, but the cost was "ridiculous".
Yet they knew this in advance, still went for a meal and was irritated the whole time.
Value for money is a concept that varies depending who you are and what you consider important or enjoyable.
The most I have spend on a meal out was around 1000 pounds a head at a lovely place in Oslo, it was the meal of a lifetime, but I have spent a tenner on lunch and felt ripped off.
Each to their own, don't blame a proprietor for having a market.
No one spends 70M if you aren't going to get a healthy return.
Topic officially beaten to death by handbags.