The issue is not only one of price. If CORE turns into a flake, the .firm names that they wanted to sell are just as locked-in. You will, no doubt, claim that the POC's oversight prohibits this, but you can't know that. POC could turn into a flake, as you say.
Control is control.
But your second point is very valid. Recall, that multi-year contracts aren't necessary when the contract says that prices shall not increase more than a fixed percentage. Place a cap on the upscale, and let the downscale do what it will. I have no evidence that supports your claim. Look at the web sites for CORE registrars.