You do have a choice... either run cheap pumps (you can even afford a dual system, for backup) or fork out the dough.
There's no billboard for pumps because the demand isn't there. Each pump manufacturer has his own niche market (low/medium/high cost/quality) which decreases the advertising need even further. There's just not a lot of competition.
We could sure use a price break on those Eheims though... I know how you feel, trust me
