All very true. I suspect 22lr prices will not come down significantly even when things get back to the new normal. I am currently paying about 3 cents per primer, about 1.5 cents per powder charge, and about 1cent per boolit. That totals 5-5.5 cents per round. I am retired and brass is cheap and re-useable so labor and brass are not counted.
Those prices are good for both 38 special and 9mm for me.
At the odd moment when 22lr actually are available to purchase around here the go for 10 cent a round or more.
I started doing this hobby/sickness back in 1974 in order to have enough ammo to practice.