This change happened last year when Small parts send out replacement 1/8" steel dowels to teams... Probably because the 1/16" spring pins didn't pull it off as the most stable way to keep the shaft coupler in place.
So, they send out the 1/8" pins, and tell teams to drill out the hole. Just use the original hole as a pilot hole, and drill through the drill motor shaft as planned. You probably want to drill the hole such that you are press fitting the pin in there, or else during some random time at competition, the pin will drop out and your robot will be sitting duck.
And about the $25 price... well, they are much cheaper than trying to screw a double sprocket onto the drill shaft and trust the left handed screw to hold the sprockets in place... and have them break 20 times and you running around teams trying to find replacement lefthanded screws during finals.
I really do think they are worth the $$$, since you can attach it really easily, and don't ever have to worry about them anymore. So far, I haven't heard any bad things about them. Imagine trying to attach gears onto that shaft on your own.