This is not quite true. A major factor that led to styles such as Queen Anne Victorians was cheap, mass-produced ornamentation. Prior to that, a lot of detail h

This is not quite true. A major factor that led to styles such as Queen Anne Victorians was cheap, mass-produced ornamentation. Prior to that, a lot of detail had to be done by hand. That meant that a Queen Anne might cost considerably less to build than a less ornate Italianate. However, the biggest issue today is not a lack of ornamentation. Rather, it is a lack of thought. So many homes are now made without proportion, balance or scale. For instance, pull up a picture of a Victorian and, in your mind, strip away the ornamentation. You'll find that things just feel right, such as the size and distribution of windows, the height of each floor, the roofs, etc. So much of that is missing today, but it would be an insignificant cost to address (before a building is built). I think of it similar to food. There are some amazing things you can only experience at extremely expensive restaurants. But you can also find amazing food for a couple dollars. It comes down to similar things such as balance. Very simple food that is prepared the correct way and balanced can be both cheap and absolutely delicious. But too many people don't care, so you rarely see it.