I'm just browsing the new patterns added in 3.1 for blacksmithing and I've come to conclusion that they are going to be unrealistic to make and sell, or be a worthy upgrade for the blacksmith.
For example, take your Spiked Titansteel Treads, at 3 titansteel bars (approx. 330 gold), 4 saronite bars (approx 10 gold) and a frozen orb (approx 50 gold) gives us a grand total of 390 gold for the components. They sell on my server for around 800 - 900 gold a pair.
Quick reference spiked titansteel treads stats:
1541 Armour
+80 strength
+67 stamina
+35 critical strike rating
Now take your Battlelord's Plate Boots, at 10 titansteel bars (approx 1100 gold), 25 saronite bars (approx. 62 gold) and 6 runed orb (approx. 15000 (median Alla price) gold (well for 18 emblems of conquest why wouldn't they be!)), gives us a grand total of 16,162 gold, just for the components.
Quick reference battlelord's plate boots stats:
1614 armour
+69 strength
+126 stamina
Red socket
Blue socket
Socket bonus +6 strength
+49 critical strike rating
+48 haste rating
Clearly they are an improvement on the spiked titansteel treads, but at what cost? Who's going to pay that amount of gold for a crafted item, when you can gear run Naxx for boots which are better than the crafted titansteel treads.
I know as the runed orbs become more popular the price will come down, but by how much?
Is my theory wrong?