Apple could use their position of product leadership to introduce mainstream consumers to a higher standard of fidelity if they wanted to, particularly at this price. But I guess that would cut into their Beats business and would make Apple Music look worse than it already is, and surely the profits aren't as nice as using plastic(!) drivers

You can get Sennheiser HD280's, where the audio quality is likely worlds apart from these, and earcup padding that attenuates outside noise by something like 30db passively, for $60. Or you could be a doof and buy these Apple cans