It seems to me that the in-state title companies hire most of the abstractors direct, either as employees or independent contractors.  Since they are the 1,000 pound gorilla in the room, I don't think you have much hope of raising fees.

Miss the ancient days before title insurance became "mandatory":  $300 for a Certificate of Title signed by the attorney with a professional, full-time paralegal abstractor doing the legwork.  Of course, those were also SIXTY year searches.