Until the late nineties and the internet the price of balls pretty much always included the drilling. Today so many are getting balls at wholesale but then pay to have the ball drilled or have to purchase equipment to do it themselves (generally from someone who went broke trying to do it as a business).

Bowlers will pay more if they feel there is a significant advantage. I know I was shock when I heard the hammers where $100. But there was significant performance advantage and you had to pay to get it.

The next big jump came with reactive resin. Bowlers saw the performance of the x-caliber ball on TV and wanted one. But the price to play had gone to about $140 then in early 1990’s dollars.

Quantum balls promised new technology in core design and they sold but the rest of industry caught up in core designs and held them back and pricing met in the  middle.

Particle balls, asymmetrical, etc, etc,  have come and gone that increased prices some but there has not been a revolutionary change in years.

If a manufacture did come up with a truly revolutionary ball technology change that gave most bowlers an advantage there would be a stampede and would be willing pay $300 or more for it.