You both do realize that you can get the boxes online for 30 bucks?? Well the Metagross one is a little more pricey now but the Diancie and absol ones can be found for 30 online.
It's the same as an etb basically. The price makes sense once you figure all the prices out. 8 packs =$24 , 2 promos = $10 to 12 , playmat = 6 to 10 .
You could just do what I do and buy the promos off of eBay.
The point I'm trying to make is that it shouldn't have to come to ordering them online or in pieces. Not everyone wants to, or has the funding to do so. Especially younger players. The cards they've been shoving in these sets could be so much easier for people on a low budget but sadly they choose to go the extra mile.
These promos will likely be over $5 online which is very unfortunate. They don't need to cram that many packs into the set, and especially for those of us that live in Canada: Price it even higher over here. Things like the Diancie and Absol boxes cost too much where I am. They don't justify their price tag at all.
I can see where the contents match the value - but I also can't see the point in shoving that many contents into the box and slapping exclusive promos onto it. If you look at other card games such as Yu-Gi-Oh and Magic, you'll find they offer pretty fair prices for their big things because they're at least useable or competitive. Pokemon does not do this. It would even be nicer in the form of an Elite Trainer box that offers the promo cards as well (which, curiously - Why don't we get Promo cards in our Elite Trainer Boxes like other games do with their fat packs??? ).