The $1800 is far more for the foldable tech than it is the storage IMO. A pro max is $1200 for the same config and this phone has an ipad mini sandwiched in between. Rumor is the 15 pro max will be more, too.
To be real, I wouldn't pay $1800 for any phone, but I also don't think it's a asinine intro price, assuming it doesn;t fall apart like some foldables tend to do after normal use. Keep in mind, pixel phones historically go on sale a few months in, too. By the time iphone 15 launches I'd bet this could be had around the $1200 mark, maybe less.