There is a system, flat rate manuals, independant shops use them too. They have smaller costs and bottom line so they have a lower labor rate. It's just like any other business. Go build yourself a 4 million dollar shop, hire 6-7 certified technicians, buy all the latest state of the art equipment, and then charge customers 1 hour, at an independant shops rate, to do a water pump when the manuals call for 5. See how long your business lasts.

As I said, I give good customers breaks, and I love helping people out when I can. At the end of the day tho, business is business, and it's set up to make money, not help customers save money. They wouldn't increase revenue by having the same costs, and charging less than they already do. If they would, I'm sure they'd have figured it out by now.