It's a good question, Burl. I think it depends on how you define "on a par". Yes, there are definitely artisan carvers who turn out excellent pipes for less money than what you'd pay for a J.Alan pipe.
When you buy an artisan pipe, you're paying not only for engineering, craftsmanship and materials, but like it or not you're paying for the carver's reputation. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. In the case of J.Alan pipes, carver Jeff Gracik has made a reputation for turning out high quality pipes, which drives demand. He can only make so many in a week, and in the case of the pipe in question, there are only so many blocks that will be suitable. Small output, limited material and high demand can only result in a higher price.
If any of us were making something, and we found demand for that "thing" very high, we'd be crazy not to charge what the market will bear. I have a J.Alan pipe that I bought directly from Jeff. Yes, it was pricey but I think it's one of the finest pipes I've ever owned. Is it "better" than less expensive pipes I've bought from carvers? In some cases yes, in some cases no. But that's pretty much what you'd expect from any artisinal creation.