I like competition but there are other considerations. Have a barrel “made” by the original maker and the value is better than having it “made” by another. Ironic thing is same craftsman might make both. Using outside workers has been going on for a hundred years. I don’t know if most makers are even building enough guns to keep specialists like barrel maker employed. So they fall back to a long held tradition of using outsourcing as a solution. H&H are getting a premium for their name and the enhance resale value that represents. While expensive, I think new barrels will continue to be made by those with deep enough pockets. It is just out of my price range. For that matter I suspect a nice engraving job would be as well and that always has been outsourced. Norms of the trade.
