Are (large) e-ink displays expensive because of lack of scale in manufacturing? Or is there something inherently expensive about them? This display is literally almost ten times the cost of a generic 4K monitor, which has color, a higher resolution, and a 60 hertz refresh rate.

The only advantage here is the reflective display and the ultra-low power consumption. I'm not saying that there aren't use cases where those could be critical/decisive, but given the cost differential it seems like the decision between the two is effectively automatic: the products don't compete, in the same way an SUV doesn't compete with a Cessna: if you need to fly, you buy the plane; otherwise the car is a no-brainer.

I ask because I would love to have a second monitor like this display: easy on the eyes, distraction-free, etc. But at this cost it's a ridiculous non-starter for that purpose.