Maybe someone should start a thread on cocoon.io to share these pricing concerns. I also feel like $500 a project to remove the splash screen is too steep. Maybe a one time $500 fee for permanent removal on ALL projects would be OK.
Let's face it - C2 users will probably be some of their main customers and if no one is willing to pay their fees, they won't make any money at all. That isn't good for them either.