Quote Originally Posted by Peregrine View Post
Does not matter one iota what the gatherer charges for the catalyst, or the battler charges for the materia. The crafter owns the title to their houses. No one can start materia without paying a crafter something. No one can use materia or catalysts without paying a crafter something.

The gatherers and battlers pay back every last gil what they charged crafters for, and more once that crafter is done with them.
Unless you find a cheap crafter.