I got mine for £15 in TK Maxx (TJ in the States). It was a "Hairy Bikers" branded one, so presumably a white label manufacturer. That's not a one off either, there are always some in there at the price.

I did sand it a bit with a palm sander because the Internet told me to, but I'm pretty sure it would have been fine anyway.

It's been years, and I've deliberately seasoned it only once, and I don't think I actually really needed to. Sometimes when it's been used for tomatoes and looks thirsty, I'll put a wipe of oil in and heat it up for a bit.

I don't miss the very expensive Le Creuset wedding present non stick pan that turned out to be as bad as all the rest.

However, also in T[KJ] Maxx are 10 times more truly terrible Teflon pans.

It's an example of how people spend money - not an actual analysis of the pan market.