It's like the old joke about divorce: Why is salvage cost so expensive? Because it's worth it.
In a broad sense, the overall pricing scheme of tow/salvage companies MUST be reasonable because this is a relatively free market. Potential competition keeps overall pricing reasonable. If government intrudes and restricts compensation, there will be fewer available to save our sorry asses. Or it will have to be made up by increasing tow fees.
It's also a free country (for now), so there's no need for anyone to whine and complain about exorbitant fees A boater is free to ask if it's a salvage or tow, and is equally free to deny the service offered. Of course they also bear the responsibility for vessel damage, and usually the insurance will not cover it if they learn that the boater could have protected the boat, but chose not to.
Then there's potential environmental clean-up costs and liability that the know-it-all boater may be responsible for as well.
