I got mine on sale for about half that. The thing I really like about it is it plugs into the lightning port so it’s got a smaller delay in reaction. It feels good to use and reminds me of a much smaller switch/steam deck. I also have other controllers but this one is almost always in my backpack when I travel.
Plenty of cheaper options. The Kishi is great for smaller phones and X2 is almost as nice and even cheaper. They're perfect for emulators but suck for shooters.
...But then you also need an attachment between your phone and the xbox controller. Which do exist but might be on rare offer. OP and everyone else who picked it up want a particular experience, and accessories like this aren't a wide market.