If it's any consolation Tee Gee, yours is the only one I've seen with a 'proper' thermostat. Most of the rest have nothing more than a variable on/off timer, as seen on electric cookers, which take no account of the surrounding temperature.
I have a theory about the high cost: if they're well designed and well built, they'll last for ages so the company won't have a high production output once everybody is supplied. It's a very old theory and in reality, it's probably nothing more than the all encompassing corporate greed.
Now you've bought it of course, there'll be no more frosts. ;D
Geoff.