That is almost twice as much as you would have paid for the mount that iPad-Sweden purchased, which was $73.32 + $10.37 shipping or $83.69.
Not exactly.
I did not want a windshield mount which appears to be the link provided by ipad-sweden. Although, it does not look like a windshield mount in his video. Perhaps he rigged it up a bit or usbfever does not sell that model any longer?
Also, I wanted a case irregardless of a car mount so that cost is negated for me. Most quality cases cost between $30-$60, with some going even higher (Otterbox series, for example). Most of the mounting solutions are not case friendly and if they are, the tolerances limit the kind of case you can use. When I stumbled across the Modulr case system, I immediately knew they were on to something and even had a car mount coming. However, I was impatient and knew I could modify something up.
So the break down on price for me was this:
$99 shipped for the starter kit from Modulr which included the case, the slim mount and the quick stand. (Actually, I received 2 quick stands due to an error in the color shipped and they had me keep the incorrect one while immediately sending the correct replacement.)
$45.96 shipped for the Ram pod I with a 1.5" (not the smaller 1") ball
$144.96 total
So yes, if you want to take the approach of "this was all for the sole purpose of obtaining a car mount" - you can say there are cheaper options out there. But in my mind the build quality on these (I looked at a lot of choices) and or the limitation of use as/or with a case - made them unappealing and not economical for my use.
Since I would have bought the Modulr Case system regardless, my net cost was less than $50 disregarding the Modulr purchase. Not only that, I have a completely functional case that can stay on the ipad when mounting in the car which can not be said for several of the pricey options available. And I can pop it out of the car, still in the case, and pop on a quick stand for using in portrait of landscape mode on a desk at home or the office. Not only that I can add on at my pace as the Modulr system is expanded, should I choose to do so.
Of course my setup is not for everyone and it's not as cheap as I had hoped, but considering flexibility, build quality and price - it was the best setup for me.