CompactFlash cards remain among the most popular storage solutions for digital cameras, PCs, and other digital media devices. Unfortunately, these solutions often come with a hefty price tag, raising the question of why they are so expensive. The answer lies in the materials and labor used to produce them; high-quality components must be used to meet demanding standards of performance and reliability while skilled engineers assemble every card by hand, resulting in a final product that can cost up to three times more than an equivalent-sized microSD card. But with their durability and reliability, CompactFlash cards remain one of the most dependable data storage methods today — worth every penny spent, given the peace of mind they provide.