I am not buying the company line....coatings have gotten easier since then
"High recycling costs" sounds like an environmental issue
Maybe the "home coatings" have gotten easier, but that doesn't apply to
industrial use.
There are a HUGE amount of regulations that apply to industrial use, storage, and DISPOSAL of chemicals that home users never have to worry about, often ones they don't even know about.
These can, and do have a tremendous impact on the cost of industry in the US.
As an illustration, the jug of drain cleaner you can buy at the supermarket and pour down your home sink COULD result in TENS of THOUSANDS of DOLLARS in fines, if poured down a sink at work. I am NOT kidding. If the item in question contains chemicals on certain lists, its use in industry is regulated "from cradle to grave" and this COSTS.
Following all the laws and regulations, one pint of left over "nylon" scrap might cost thousands of dollars to dispose of. Specific details matter a lot, but it is entirely possible given the right situation. The home "coater" doesn't deal with this.
IF Federal (or anyone) says it got to expensive to make, I would believe them. MAYBE you can do it at home, and do it cheaper, but don't think you could use the same process and just scale it up for volume, the law will not let you.
IF ANY of the chemicals in the compounds being used is listed as "hazardous", "Toxic" or "suspected carcinogen", a business has tons of hoops they have to jump through (including worker right to know training, and PPE, all of which costs) that the home user doesn't.
IF it wasn't exempt because it is listed as a "food" ordinary table salt would be a highly regulated material, because of the hazardous chemicals in it!