I think you have a point, that Adafruit isn't trying to sell you the raw screen and compete with component suppliers.
I think of it more as a hobby screen kit. The $20 dollar one is on a custom board that interfaces with adafruits existing kits (Raspberry pi or "StemmaQT interfaces). They even supply "Circuit python" libraries to drive the thing, which is a their value add.
If you were mass manufacturing a screen for your custom board you'd order the part direct, but for a quick hobby project screen its not completely crazy.
Having worked for a company that had custom electronics hardware built with components, certainly we ordered direct from Chinese suppliers, it was much cheaper (with the associated lead times).
I think of it more as a hobby screen kit. The $20 dollar one is on a custom board that interfaces with adafruits existing kits (Raspberry pi or "StemmaQT interfaces). They even supply "Circuit python" libraries to drive the thing, which is a their value add.
If you were mass manufacturing a screen for your custom board you'd order the part direct, but for a quick hobby project screen its not completely crazy.
Having worked for a company that had custom electronics hardware built with components, certainly we ordered direct from Chinese suppliers, it was much cheaper (with the associated lead times).