Questionable Item of the Week: Painted selvedge jean

Painted selvedge jean
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Item 98560
Regular: $285.00

In the "Men's Clothing Collector's Items" post, J.H. mentioned the Painted Selvedge Jean. At the time, I checked out what she was referring to and couldn't help noticing anything beyond the price. Did that price tag really say $285? My eyes cannot believe it. Dear J.Crew, is that price just a typo error from the system upgrade? Please tell me that it is so, because the jeans do not look like they are worth almost $300 (after tax is included).

I mean, I think it's great that the "authentic selvedge cotton denim" comes "from one of Japan's oldest and most renowned mills" that are woven on "original 100-year-old narrow looms". No, really that is awesome. But is the "stonewashed, hand-distressed, hand-splattered with paint and hand-finished" attention that each pair of jeans receive really worth that much? I mean, I could probably save at least a hundred dollars if I buy the Straight-fit selvedge jean in vintage indigo wash jeans (Item 92781; $165.00) or the Straight-fit selvedge jean in worn rinse wash jeans (Item 87571; $150.00) and spend a couple of hours beating-up and throwing some paint on the jean myself. ;) In any case if I bought the painted selvedge jeans (or "made" them myself) my husband would still not wear them. (And I would be out a significant amount of money that could go to better J.Crew purchases!) :)

What do you think? Have you seen them in person at a J.Crew store? Do you think I am being overly critical about these jeans? Do you own any of these pants? If you do, please let me know what you think!