Retina said..airsail said..
Just look at the price of a UHM carbon mast, back in 2018 that would have bought you 3 complete foils. People will pay.
In my opinion.. Mast is not the same thing. If you want stiffness/thin you don't have any other alternative. However, numerous parawing options are available.
I can say that i would have considered acquired an Afterburner if it had been offered at a ok price.
But I can make exactly the same argument in reverse... "If you want a great upwind parawing but with the simplicity of a single skin, you don't have any other alternative. However, there are numerous mast options available".
I personally don't find a substantial difference between my old Code mast or my old Armstrong mast when I compare them to some of the newer FAR more expensive thinner &/or stiffer masts. Certainly not enough of a difference to pay $1500 more.
But I do find a big difference between the parawings I've tried (including the AB) - and certainly enough of a difference to pay $200-600 more.