A buck a primer is cause for some solitary brooding and pondering on the price of things versus the value of things. A primer is a couple pieces of precisely formed metal with a small charge of actual explosive. Some of them are even shiney. It has its uses and been used to spark up cartridges that have fed families, saved lives, over-thrown governments, won wars and changed history more than a few times.
What is the worth of this miraculous product? Is it priceless? The odd one probably was. In spite of the pure utility of the primer; across my 40 plus years of handloading and average "normal" prices there isn't a coin in Canada small enough to buy one most of the time. Usually it was 2 or 3 for a nickel. Who hasn't dropped or spilled primers and concluded they weren't worth the effort to pick up? That all sort of changes when you're out, and your carefully chosen and cherished rifle is only good for a club or propping a screen door open.
Quoted for quality.
I will say that I have always picked up my spilled primers, even when I was buying them at $30/thou.