Truth is that they just might be, as Wiimotes cost that much (without a 6" touch screen), but no one was really complaining all that much. But you did get to buy those in pieces, so the true cost wasn't always paid upfront.
Dual Shock 3 used to cost something like $50 and that doesn't even have all the tech of the wiimote. So a Café pad with a 6" touch screen, accelerometers, wireless streaming tech all the standard buttons and sticks, rumble, bluetooth, etc. for $70 doesn't really seem like too much to ask if it works like I imagine it does.