I would guess that, per cd, the sets and singles that I buy cost me an average of US$15 each, often with S/H added since I live in Canada (long waits if I place an order with a local vendor).

High costs reflect today's economy more than anyone's excess profit. Costs paid to performers as royalties (and sometimes retainers and charges for the performance by the 'stars'), recording staff and equipment, cost of recording sites, advertizing, distribution and middlemen, profit added by the vendor (whose costs also are high), all contribute to the price paid by the consumer.

Part of what I buy has been reviewed in BBC Music Magazine because I listen to much 'classical' and opera as well as folk and jazz. Coverage of jazz and international has been added to BBC, but is very limited.

Finding good reviews is not only difficult but costly unless one has many friends with similar interests who will share their impressions.
I can symphasize with Bee, having bought some of the poor compilations on impulse and been sadly disapointed. (These comments do not apply to Document and others doing a good job of remastering, etc.).

Mudcat helps to an extent as people comment on their views, but that is not a prime function of Mudcat.

Downloading I find unsatisfactory- sound not as good and dislike of the time it takes me to organize the material. As a result, I think I will avoid letters from RIA.