Actually it costs a lot more to make a one piece forged camshaft than to make a built up one
The price would be least double if not more
A forged crankshaft in a motorcycle accounts for a touch more than 1/2 the entire cost of making the engine
This no doubt is why Kohler switched from a forged crank in the Command series to a cast malleable iron crank in the Courage series .
And once you start down the high volume low margin road there is no turning back till you get to the end , bankrupt .
So halving the cost price of a million cams is significant
Add to this B & S most likely buy the cams in so it is a case of he who supplies the best price gets the order
When B & S were a manufacturer rather than just an assembler then the cost of tooling comes into play
Once they become a bought in item it is the problem for the supplier not the purchaser