>> the best of which is a device that barely does X for $200.
OK, after we did the bid, and that's the result, why can't i just go buy something if it's less than half the price ? even if i buy it from my buddy, as long as it fits ?
Because your buddy was secretly cutting corners using Chinese chips that have a backdoor. Or chips that weren't bonded to spec and last only 2 months in the desert heat.
Because that would be corruption by official definition and the winner of the bid would sue. And that happens even if you don't buy it from your buddy but by an industry standard part from an industry standard supplier for the private sector.
OK, after we did the bid, and that's the result, why can't i just go buy something if it's less than half the price ? even if i buy it from my buddy, as long as it fits ?