At then end of the day if people don't want to pay what it costs, don't do it, I don't think any of the shops will care their main stay is generally Smash work in any case. Price wont drop I dont think. Its not like it was back in the 80's where repaint was a skim up, some 3d primer and a few coats of acrylic job done. The Standard today is much higher, the paints systems are more complex, health-safety and environmental issues impact on the business, you are not allowed to wash a car now with out a wash bay you are supposed catch all hazardous waste like slurry and sanding dust etc.
It is never cost effective to restore a car properly, it never has been, unless you do all the labour yourself and don't count the time you spent. My own car will owe me more then its worth and the only real Labour content is machine work for the engine, its not a show car just a high end driver with a fast engine, and tweaked factory suspension, no TCP RRS stuff no fancy billet bits no 18" cock wheel etc, just a properly built car at a nut and bolt level. You are on a hiding to no where regardless, just depends on the size of the hole you want to dig. Its not for the faint hearted.