To be fair to the British Standards some of the costs involved are to do with the research, meetings, legal work, technical groups etc.
And of course you have to pay for the expert services of Mr Todd he he.
The last time I bought a British Standard at the Standards building in London, I was on a course incedently with Mr Todd ( a few years ago), any how I went down at the lunch break and bought the latest BS839-1. I paid my money I think at the time it was about £145 ish, the lady pressed a few keys on her computer and my standard printed out a fairly normal printer on fair normal paper. I stood their and got that I've just been conned feeling.
I am not saying we should do anything illegal, just if there is a way of setting a group or club up and sharing the standards.