Headphones, earbuds, and IEMs have very different presentations. IMO, none match that of a great two channel or multi channel audio system. IEMs give you excellent detail and coherency and have the ability to control more factors in reproduction than do headphones which have reflection inside the earcup to deal with. Headphones do present better in a spatial sense in some ways. Earbuds are sort of a mix of the two.

I would definitely not say that headphones are superior, they’re moreso different. Also, they mess up your hair and put weight on your head the whole time.

The markup of most products probably would surprise you.

Hifiman has probably had the worst I’ve tried in their price range, but I haven’t really been impressed with most headphones cables under $400 whereas IEMs don’t have this issue even at $100 in many cases.

Companies seem to cheap out on the cable and it’s wild because they cost so little to have made in China.