This comment is not about MAP price and how you can find it the same price everywhere else. This comment is more about Spyderco pricing in general. I just don't think it's competitive with other offering out there. At $60(or $45 without pouch) you get G-10 handle, liner-lock and CTS-BD1. For a bit more money, at $100 you can buy a Kizer Guru(also on massdrop right now) with titanium handle, framelock and arguably much more premium CPM S35VN steel. Not to mention they also have all the nice ceramic ball-bearing and detent, as well as much better fit & finish.
Even at $50-60 price range there are a lot of other options out there. E.g. Kershaw Blur at $50. You can even get a Cold Steel Code 4 for similar price with CTS-XHP steel. Add ~$10-$20 you can buy an American Lawman, Delica, Endura, Manix 2 or Stretch.
massdrop01I'm not a fan of the Polestar either. However, their Native 5 lightweight has S35vn steel for about $85. One knock is that it also has an FRN handle, but it is strong feeling stuff for EDC, and the back lock works great.
massdrop01 Hmm... as much as I love Spyderco knives, I'm not sure how I feel about the CTS-BD1 blade. At $45 (without the pouch), I suppose it's a decent price for a knife with minimal edge retention (compared to VG-10 or CPM S35VN)... I'm conflicted.
lowkey.savageI used to buy many cheap sub-$50 knives but recently i've moved towards buying less knives but more quality/expensive knives. I think the quality over quantity applies here at least to a certain point(like $200) where you start getting diminishing return for your money. But if you are willing to spend a bit more at around $80-150 you really get a lot of good knives out there. Most of the Kizers listed here are sub-$150 and you really get much more quality for the money. If you are really on a budget for a low-cost knives, you can also get a lot of great models for under $30.
massdrop01The problem is Spyderco used to not have high quality Chinese competition. They could sell their premium knives at high prices and the cheap lower quality Byrd and other Chinese lines at a big discount. Now that the competition has heated up their discount line seems overpriced.
That said aid as others have pointed out this has better steel than others in their "discount" lineup.
DDroEven their Taichung TW models are overpriced nowadays considering the other options out there. it used to be ground breaking, but no longer the case imo, considering you now have WE, Reate, Kizer, Lionsteel and other up and coming China & Italian makers. Even t other makers i.e. Has stepped up their quality and offer great product for great price. You can get most of cold steel's cts-xhp models for less th $100 nowadays.
That said aid as others have pointed out this has better steel than others in their "discount" lineup.