Unfortunately it seems that whatever savings in manufacturing this could translate into would probably be canceled out by the high cost of the raw material.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm don't be too sure 'bout that. If one considers the cost of "secondary handling" using current materials, you're talking about serious personnel / manpower costs. How long would it take to make up the difference between $15 and 50 cents per pound if one, two, or more people had to take the product made from cheaper materials and mill, grind, or otherwise "finish" it? At today's labor rates? That would take no time at all to eat up the "savings" in material costs, IOW. If one could cast a truly "finished" product from the get go..........what happens to those labor costs?
No, still sounds like a bargain to me.