Price: construction or leaf content

[TMike]

The last couple of times I went to my B&M, they've offered to discount (or just throw in) smokes they got at RTDA. All these up and commers, lowish price point cigars. Is that what they mean by boutique cigars?
Today I smoked a Los Blancos Cigarros Maduro (robusto I think), or something like that. I've never heard of it, maybe one of you guys can set me straight about it. But it was something that my guy brought back from RTDA and ran past me.
I won't review it here (or probably at all), but I'll say that the taste was tobaccoy, and even throughout. Unexciting.:s
But, the construction was top notch. It made me think of a couple of reviews that Bob and Dale did on Dogwatch after smoking some lesser known cigars they saw at RTDA. Good construction, humdrum taste.
So, now my question.
These cigars are coming into the market able to provide good quality construction, but they can't swing that complex taste that our go-to's manage.
Is that because there are a limited number of smart blenders out there? Or, is it because start-up Boutique makers don't have the cash for the top notch leaves?

On a side note, there were bands on the head and foot of the cigar. Intricate, very fancy.
That always makes me suspicious. Pretty, but sometimes its an indicator of the makers' priorities.

Thanks all