Why the Crystal Price Increase for Era Mats?

In past eras, it cost 300 or 400 for the cheapest packs of Grek mats needed to take your toon to EL 15. The quantities were the same (185 mats for most purchases, chance of more). The price is now 900 crystals. 

With more ELs to achieve, the cost for gaining them has gone up. This seems like a bad choice. 

It's particularly so bc ELs are hard-gated by shards, which are already crystal-expensive. While we're currently a long way from hitting maxEL on 3* toons, we will hit that in a few weeks. The benefit of Grek-1 mats is limited. It's not nothing, of course! But it was always limited and in the new coliseum setup it's even more so. 

Why, then, should the price be increased? Possibly as much as tripled? 

I spent crystals on those in past eras to get a good start. I'm skipping it this time. 

CG isn't going to win more crystals from me by adding ELs, making each one less meaningful, while ALSO making each one more expensive.