Yeah, the $150 is steep - but you can call it what you want (mounting, balancing, boxing, handling, shipping, etc). Bottom line, if you look at the total, it's not a bad deal at all. AR wheels are not cheap. This is at least $1200 worth of wheels and regardless, I needed tires badly.
And $1725 is nealry half of the $3900 for the Vortech Mongoose...but as you surely saw, I was in the market for the Keene Bell. (And I still will be..it's just been delayed.)
Don't get me wrong, I still think you made a good choice.
Guess im just used to getting tires for cost and mounting, balancing, and stems for free. Having a GF who's dad owns a tire shop FTW