note: its the additional component and its knock on effects that are the cost- not the half cent diode. aka- you add a diode, now you have to add procurement,

note: its the additional component and its knock on effects that are the cost- not the half cent diode. aka- you add a diode, now you have to add procurement, warehousing, extra time on the pick and place, possibly a more expensive/larger+slower one as well(so even more time), then you have wastage, labor for keeping the machine fed...