It depends on how you look at it bro..
Sure, the trigger itself looks expensive. But think about it, being able to calibrate ANY vintage manual TTL flash that has at least 2 power steps, frees up your money.
Eg:
Main flash - Metz 52 ($300?)
3 vintage flash of ANY brand - 3x AF200T ($100 or lesser?)
Total - $400? or lesser + $150 (triggers) = $550 or lesser.
Now, do that the sum again with other manual 3rd party flash that allows more steps for manual power.
See the strength? The off shoe flash is not limited to a single brand or the latest and greatest.
Maybe the main flash is important because you never know when you need pTTL..
But otherwise, the rest of the flashes you can just use and throw or hunt for bargain vintage flashes, which has at least 2 steps of manual power, using off shoe, needn't have tilt and swivel.
Willing to get 2 and a yongnuo mark 3 if supports, can use to learn strobe and can be used for macro