Yeah, $1.30 isn't peanuts... but that price is for low volumes (single modules) on a retail site. High volume production probably slashes that down to about hal

Yeah, $1.30 isn't peanuts... but that price is for low volumes (single modules) on a retail site. High volume production probably slashes that down to about half, and then we're in the price range of 7 segment LCD panels like linked above, especially when counting in a controller (and we'll likely need a controller if driving it from an 8 bit uC). Of course, when absolute $ savings are more important than resolution / legibility, tens of cents are worth looking into. Power requirements are another topic, and monochrome LCDs are unmatched there.