It is absurd if you don't compare it to other video reference monitors but being the only alternative for a large screen with 200 ppi resolution. The problem is the huge gap between this screen and almost every other screen outside. There are plenty of developers which would be happy to pay good money for 30" 200+ ppi screen. But the Apple Pro Display is very expensive for that and has some weaknesses as being optimized for something else (video production).
It also isn't a really great screen otherwise. It doesn't even come with a second video input.
In what planet is it "absurd"? Because the calibrated monitors it competes with (from Sony, etc) cost around $10K to $20K.