Things cost money to make The better version are often legitimately more expensive to produce even ignoring all r&d cost etc, as they are made in smaller batch

Things cost money to make The better version are often legitimately more expensive to produce even ignoring all r&d cost etc, as they are made in smaller batches, using more specialized equipment or methods, use more expensive precursors, or any of a million other factors. The reality is that even if patents were irrelevant, in the vast majority of cases the generic would still be the cheapest option simply due to basic economies of scale. Really... I have to ask if you even considered the topic in any meaningful way... Right?