Here's a good one. I only need the guts for a push through light
socket and HD has a whole socket for 3.48.

3.48! It ought to be 75c, maybe 1.40 allowing for inflation.

So i go to Amazon, and trusty Amazon will sell me just the guts.

How much?

$8.69 by Cooper
$4.40 by Leviton

Maybe it's a wierd thing where the whole thing costs less than part of
it.

$5.00 by GE

So I guess 3.48 is not so bad.