Sorry if this is a dumb question but why is wadcutter ammo so scarce? Given that all handgun owners are allowed to do with their guns is punch holes in paper at the range. you'd think it would be the most common variety of a calibre like .38 spl. 
Because new ammo is not made here in Canada.
With the current ammo shortages the importers are importing whatever they can get. Last time I bought factory .38spcl from LeBarons all they had was SWC's but that was a couple years ago. A lot of the ammo I see for revolver calibres now is for the cowboy action crowd and they don't want SWC's as that isn't what was used in the wild west. It's all lead RN or FP.What difference would that make? If sellers have to import all ammo why not import wadcutters? ......or are they not made in the US or Europe?
Those are two quite complex questions.What's the actual cost per round of reloading? (say 9mm or 40) How many rounds can you produce in say...an hour?
Once you start reloading you will also find that you shoot a lot more as you know it's less expensive. It's the catch-22 of reloading.