Remember, Alex Hattori has a Master’s Degree in Engineering from MIT. My understanding is that he is pretty hands on with yoyo design, which likely means putting his formal education to use.
Just because in a picture I can’t see why this is different than a similar one piece shape, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t feel a difference in play. If I can feel a difference in play, imagine how that difference could impact a six-time National Champion.
Finally, a $60 price tag isn’t absurd. There are less expensive and more expensive mono metal yoyos out there. This is the point on the continuum from “free” to “$1,000,000,000” that Yoyo Factory thought was appropriate.