Yup. Much like ink carts, they lure you in with low priced units, but consumables are skyhigh.
$90 for the full set up, or just the replacement RO filter?
3 or 5 stage? how many GPD?
Only thing holding me back from RO is the waste water. The ratios suck, and I'm in a drought area.
(that and I think .5 micron isn't bad.)