well... I certainly don't want to seem like I'm defending Strider because I don't own any of their blades, or any other "top end" war blades for that matter, but...
I've forged many a knife and their stock removal technique isn't nearly as time consuming.
Lets say you forge 52100. Knock it into shape, then anneal. How much more stock removal is there to do? On contrast, Strider to my knowledge has moved to S30V. Is that type of barstock a little harder to grind than 52100 (or whatever you forge with?). I ask because I've seen Harvey Dean forge a blade and between pounding it into shape, using an angle grinder to remove scale and then finishing the hollow grind with his $$$ variable speed high end grinder, he is done quite quickly. I could be wrong, but flat grinding 3/8" S30V is a little tricky. Even then, I have found a flat grind is harder than a hollow grind which is harder than a chisel grind?
Strider will install an ambi thumbstud. They will also probably drill holes for you to mount the clip on the other side.
Those G10 slabs haven't been cut and contoured to some weird shape; they are as flat as they came from the supplier, just cut to profile and radiused on the edges. No big work.
I think what they do with the G10 here gets the job done. Should it be more fancy to justify the $350 price of a folder? I can tell you from personal experience that G10 plain SUCKS to work with if you only have cheap tools like a couple files, a $120 belt grinder a $60 bench grinder and a dremel. And to get a good finish on it other than the factory? No way for me.
And when Buck went into production on the Strider folder, you'd think the price would come down. Nope. Very sad.
It would be sad if the Buck version is the same as the Strider version, but they are very different. I have to admit that it's easy to get confused by the spartan appearance of both but if you look, you can see the differences. They are significantly different. Different enough to warrant $200 extra or whatever? That's a personal question, kinda like justifying why others and I spend "way to much" on the USP series?
FWIW, Strider used to build exclusively for the armed forces. They have made their products available to civilians. Active duty enlisted get a decent discount. Dealers stocking Striders are required to sign an agreement that essentially makes the dealer charge the same prices for X blade across the board... that's why you see so little Striders on sale (ever seen one?)
I'm not sure about CRKT knives being the best for the money. I can grind a shank from rebar for the cost of a belt. Heck, QVC is offering good deals on 440C integral lock knives. I would say that if you find a good deal then Spyderco is probably the best for the money. I have them as well as CRKT knives, I like them both but then again I don't think either hold a candle to Strider's folders. Just MHO. Heck, one of my relatives (Joe Kious) makes $1000+ folders from damascus, etc. Wouldn't want to take one of those to war!
Only Benchmade offers their folders at a reasonable price.
cheers