You can buy a Pi zero 2 W for $15. A pi 3 model A will cost you $25. The pi 3 model B+ and pi 4 model B are both $35. The prices haven’t gone up. Your expectations have gone up and the price of similar x86 hardware has come down.
You can argue that the value of the pi lineup has diminished, and that’s a valid argument, but these price complaints are just silly.