If this is their goal, R1 is on par with the $200 a month model. Most people don't give a shit.
I think it's more accurate to say most people can't (and don't) care about big monetary figures.
As far as Joe Average is concerned, ChatGPT cost $OoomphaDuuumpha and Deepseek cost $RuuunphaBuuunpha. The only thing Joe Average will care is the bill he gets after using it himself.