I assume you know the drivers in even an expensive speaker (costing $10K or more) only cost a couple of hundred dollars
Quite often true, but MBL is not the only manufacturer that make their own drivers. A few others use expensive drivers too.
BTW: MBL has an absolutely fascinating design...reminds me of Robby from the Forbidden Planet. The 101e has got to be one of the coolest designs out there!