Ours were not that expensive. I don’t remember exactly, but I think around $150.
I guess it takes some talent to do them right, but also they charge a lot because people and insurance pays it instead of refusing to pay such a high price. Supply and demand and what the market will bear.
Does the $300 include scratch resistant and transition for sunlight?
If you don’t have an astigmatism and both eyes are similar prescription, you can try the cheap progressives in the drug stores. They might be sufficient. I’m not sure if they are for near, mid, and far; or, just near and mid.
I didn’t like progressives, I tried them for two weeks and then went back to bifocals. Luckily, the eye place allowed my husband to use my “credit” to update lenses in his glasses for his progressive prescription.