The pricing is exactly the same, nor was the rationale ever to provide an edition for people who don't need a DVD player. You can still download and install those components freely after installing the OS.
The rationale for it was an anti-competition lawsuit brought by the EU.
The pricing may be the same, you may even be able to download the components, but the difference exists and there is choice to select something without.
They may have been forced to do it, but you are paying for a product WITH media player, same price or not.
