I agree. And I would even go a step further. There shouldn't be demand for "expensive" devs. Because they aren't worth their dime. No one is.

Great devs should receive their worth as compensation. But that wouldn't make them expensive. That would just make them worth their dime.

But I totally get the point you were trying to make. Lot's of employers try to get one over and not pay you what you are worth.

Interesting, my view has been almost the opposite. It's difficult to get your first developer role. But after a year of that and salaries increase quite rapidly. likewise with contracting / freelancing.

Of course my view of cheap and expensive may be different from yours.