What differentiates a 3D TV from a non 3D set?
1. Infrared transmitter for frame syncing glasses
2. A display panel with a refresh rate of at least 120Hz
3. An HDMI 1.4 input for receiving 120Hz signals
4. Capability of processing 120Hz content
Let's break these items down and see what it's costing the set manufacturers.
1. The only real added (as opposed to incremented) hardware to the TV, but it's a 50 cent part, at most.
2. Good luck buying a larger HDTV which doesn't already do 120Hz or 240Hz or 6000Hz or whatever. Free.
3. I'll be generous and say the HDMI 1.4 chips are $5 more than the older HDMI 1.3 chips.
4. This is the real wildcard, since even 240Hz TVs up until now haven't had to deal with anything over 60Hz on the input side, and generating 120Hz and higher signals is done with simple field duplication. Still, if you're handling 120Hz and higher signals later in the path, you can do it earlier with not a lot more effort. Let's say this costs whatever it costs to handle 1080P 60Hz signals 18 months ago. Let's call it $25-50 extra.
Of course you also need to include LCD shutter glasses with batteries and IR receivers. Pack in 2 pairs at, maybe $25 each manufacturing costs, though $5-$10 is more likely. Add another buck or two to pay off the standards body to ensure interoperability of the glasses with all TVs. Wait, scratch that, instead throw in a buck for security measures to ensure other sets glasses don't work with your sets. Why? Because f*** 'em, that's why!
So a 3D HDTV with a couple of pair of glasses should cost somewhere between $41.50 and $106.50 more to manufacture. I'd guess it is probably closer to the low end than the high. Double it for profits, and there's a fair markeup to go to 3D. A $1000 markup and $200 glasses is severe price gouging and everyone knows it. When the premium to go to 3D gets down to a reasonable level, it will be embraced. I'd look for a lower end manufacturer like VIZIO to realize they can bundle in 3D for practically nothing and sell a ton of sets to drive the 3D markup down.