it uses more brass, more lead (often but not always), more powder.
they could also just charging that much because thats what it the most econmical
yes reloading is much better. i bought everything i needed to reload for 100 bucks. now for the price 5 boxes of .44mag, you can set up. and it takes almost not room to set up a reloader, and you can always make a movable mount for your press so that there is no room taken up.

propmahn
you can never have too many guns