Since your last 2 sentences contradict, I'll assume there was a wording mistake in there and you are saying they cost the same to produce?
The last two sentences do not contradict.
The PF MKII, or the CRF version of the same, was likely less costly to produce than the original M77 PF action with tang safety and adjustable trigger, not the reverse as you claim.
I'll give you the change from tang safety and adjustable trigger was based on limiting cost, but I guarantee you that decision was made due to the increased cost of changing it to CRF. At best, the current CRF is running the same cost basis as the original pushfeed did back then. But again, that pushfeed was more expensive than the average pushfeed due to the fact it was still a direct variant of the Mauser 98 minus the CRF.
That being said, I'd never buy an FTW at that price and will wait until someone is dumping it off used. I sure would like to see a new change to keep CRF but go back to the tang safety and adjustable trigger, but can only imagine the pricing then.
It is worth noting the rifle I just got back from Ruger was a MK II and they installed the new LC6 trigger for $100. It's still not adjustable, but is a very good trigger and for $10 I got a spring that took 30 seconds to change out and now have a 3.5# trigger that is crisp with no creep.