I noticed this too...
I'm flying ex-NYC for ~$390. Biz on the return HGH-SFO-EWR cost an additional $998, which is sort of a no brainer. Upfaring the outbound would have taken another $1,700, which is prohibitive.
I don't love paying $1,400 for a MR, but $998 for 17 hours in lie-flat C was too good to pass up...