What makes an expensive speaker expensive

Ctsooner I agree with most of what you have said except for your comment about an expensive speaker using paper drivers.  Paper is a great cone material and most of the speakers using paper cones always seem to sound more natural to my ears. And just because it is paper doesn't mean it's not high tech.  People who have a Coral 10 that needs a recone can attest to that, it can't be done. 
And as far as the folks who are saying part of the high cost is R and D, give your head a shake, there are no new developments in speaker technology!!  The best speakers I have heard are still older efficient designs with paper drivers.
Just like 99% of high end audio megabuck speakers are a huge ripoff!  When I go to the shows I invariably never enjoy the high dollar rooms with the megabuck SS electronics. They are very detailed and some of them are impressive sounding but they never sound like proper music to me. 
And ctsooner don't take this as a slight against vandersteen, I think they are one of the few that actually do R and D and try to give you something for your money.  I enjoy them and used to own a pair. 

Ctsooner you can have great impact with a SET depending on which one you are listening to. Also as long as the speakers are a proper load. I use 845 with paper driver tannoys and the impact will blow your hair back. And I find the bass to be much more natural sounding than SS bass. It sounds right to me, not like over damped Ss bass.. Especially when you are listening to a standup bass. The harmonic overtones you get from a SET can't be equaled. YMMV. We get into trouble with generalizations like SET doesn't have impact or do bass, or paper drivers do this, or whatever.....