So a company famous for "bargain bin" AR-15's now think they can make a $2,000 1911? That is laughable at best considering the already well established competition in that particular market segment. That and after what they pulled with Springfield that Rock River can take a long walk off a short cliff.
There are few examples of other manufactures that do the same with regard to other such products. Seiko comes to mind. Although you might think they only mass produce fairly cheap quartz watches in actuality that's not the case. They also make some very nice mechanical watches that are fairly expensive. In fact they are known for making some very good quality movements which after all is what a mechanical watch is all about in the first place.
I get what your saying and in fact this may also have something to do with why The Grand Seiko line isn't very well known let alone not well represented in the States. Sometimes when a company makes mass produced products you have a hard time believing they are also capable of making some of the better quality products money can buy.