You didn't mention the other half of this evil equation.
These handful of journals can make or break your academic career. If for any reason they do not like you, you will never get published.
Talk about the real gate keepers.

There was one study that was published by a journal about repeating Monsanto's tests for cancer and extending the duration. The results were not good. Monsanto's answer was to basically buy the journal and put their own person as editor. The journal then retracted the study.

That all of this data and information is, generally or specifically, paid for by the public, the withholding of it is crime against the people. But, we have seen this control of information in all fields. Science is just the worst.

They invented the bloody internet, why can't they use it?