Noise isolation and leakage has nothing to do with cutting costs. The open design benefits from unobstructed air flow at back of the driver. Try closing the grills with your hands and you'll get it.
It is really hard to get good soundstaging with closed designs, especially at this price point.

oh cool. well anyway, that just proves they tried to get the mod SQ as possible, disregarding noise isolation and leakage.

Some people say that if you wash the foam earpads with soap, they get less scratchy!

I tried that but it just made it smell nicer