WRT the cost I just mean the cost of battery packs is vastly higher than the raw cells used inside them. I know they need to add a bit on top of BoM to turn a profit, but you're often paying many times the raw cost of the cells.
But yeah I agree about pack standardisation - it really is a bit silly you need a separate expensive battery pack for that cordless angle grinder you use once in a blue moon when you already have a load of batteries lying around. The only real way you can do that now is by getting locked in to one brand. If they're worried about excess current draw or something, they only need to set a current limit on the Li-ion protection circuitry.