Here's what I do:
-Verizon, but grandfathered plan including unlimited data
-Corporate discount of 22% (unlimited data is only $23)
-Buy phone at full price on zero interest plan to ease payments
-Jailbreak for many reasons
-Happiness!
I would tend to agree with you, but outside the US they don't have subsidies and the phones are still $650 or even more expensive when you tack on import tariffs.
This is one reason cheap Android phones are doing so much better outside the US than in the US. Apple is still outselling Android phones on the Verizon and AT&T, but outside the US it's about 80% Android and 20% iPhone.
The rumored iPhone 5C is supposed to help address this issue with a "mid range" iPhone probably closer to $300-$400 (without subsidy) vs $650 for what the latest iPhone goes for.
So I guess by that logic you're right. Apple wouldn't be making an iPhone 5C if it weren't for the no-subisdy model outside the US.