So is that the best guess for this mystery lens and it's obscure marketing device?

The Computar 210 f9?

If it is, it's certainly overpriced. With a bit of patience you could do much better on ebay - I've seen at least 4 over the last year, and I haven't been looking for them - and all have gone for much less than that - at most a quarter of that price. Maybe if you can afford 11x14 film you can afford to pay through the nose for lenses?