Hey Robert,
     a couple of points.

"It doesn't prevent a fraudulent transfer...At that price, it should come with a guarantee that you won't be the victim of a fraudulent transfer!"

  Title insurance does not guarantee against fraudulent transfer and it costs more than ten times more than this, but 99% of closing have title insurance purchased and a person usually refi's their property at least a couple times.

  We all have clients that think no matter what we charge it is an outrageous price.  Also in the business world there is whole sale pricing and retail pricing.  There is what we charge businesses and what we charge the public.  Businesses get volume discounts, in general, where as the public only buys a single order.

"And, regardless of what the "government Website" claims, you don't need to have a certified copy of your deed.  That is the purpose of having it recorded.  What good does it do to have a copy of it?"

  Is not piece of mind worth something?  That is what they are offering as well.  Down in La and Ms when the Recorder's Offices went under water having a certified copy of your deed in a safe place could have been a useful thing if the Recorder's Document could not have been saved.

"When a current owner search costs as little as $35 to $50, $59 to $89 for a certified copy is a rip-off.  In my opinion, they are trying to create a panic and taking advantage of people's fears."

  Isn't that what all marketing really does?  Create a want, a need?  Isn't that what we do as small business owners and our marketing?  Create a need that if they don't use an experienced or trained or licensed abstractor they are making a huge mistake? 
  I agree with you that we as abstractors are severly under paid for our skills and services.

  This has been an interesting discussion, thanks.
   Jay