I recently bought a box of 100 CCI small rifle primers and a box of 100 Winchester large rifle primers for $3.99 each. That's about 4 cents for just a metal cup, primer charge, and metal anvil.
I think it is unreasonable to expect a box of quality, sure fire, accurate .22 long rifle cartridges, metal case, primer, powder charge and bullet, for less than the cost of a centerfire rifle primer.
Yes, I remember the days of a box of 50 .22 long rifle at about one cent a round. I also remember in those days I could go to the Rialto Theatre on Saturday see a double feature, have Reese's Cups, Coke and popcorn, and after the movie buy a Famous Monsters of Filmland at the newstand across the street, on an allowance of two dollars a week. I got to thinking about that in 2010, and ran $1.00 in 1960 thru the Wikipedia inflation calculator and got equal to $7.50 in 2010.