why are anamorphic lenses so expensive?

[johntimber]

Hi,

This forum doesn't seem to be getting much traffic these days, but if anyone can answer my questions, I'd like to understand a couple of things:
1. Why are anamorphic lenses, like the UH480, so expensive? and
2. Do any of the DIY versions of said lenses compare favorably with the store-bought versions?

I didn't find the right solution from the Internet.

References:
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/174-diy-constant-height/2470065-why-anamorphic-lenses-so-expensive.html
Explainer Video studio

Thanks