Just a guess, but it's possible in both cases that the mfg found ways to simplify the designs (for example, redesigning internal parts to make them less expensive to produce or reducing part count) while not adversely affecting performance and/or improved efficiency in the manufacturing process, and passed on the cost savings to the consumer. For example, if a company offers fewer options, that reduces cost by reducing the number of process setups and allows larger production lot sizes between production change-over. This amortizes production costs over a greater number of units and reduces non-production setup time that costs money. If mechanical components are designed in such a way that it eliminates production operations, the part can be just as good functionally, but less expensive to make. Or, maybe they outsourced production of components to lower cost suppliers? Sometimes just rearranging the production line to reduce material handling and non-value add part move time/staging to improve efficiency can reduce cost without having any effect on the product.
Competition has a way of forcing companies to find ways to reduce production costs.
Last edited by RifleDude; 02/07/16.
