I think corn gets a bad rep because of its use in dog and cat food. We have to remember that some of these vilified corn based pellets are some of the leading standards - Harrison's, Roudybush, Lafeber - they have been around for decades and developed by some of the biggest names in the Avian Nutrition - so we can see how having these pellets in their diets has effected them. They are made by some of the smartest people in the industry. Are there better vehicles available? Surely. But it is also a balance between providing healthy food for birds that people will actually buy and ingredients used. If someone goes to Petsmart and looks for bird food, they see a wall of seeds and pellets. Lets say the seeds currently are $2 per pound while the corn based pellets are $3 to $4. It is still double the price per pound, but they have been told pellets are necessary, so they do it.
Same scenario, and now the only pellets are corn, soy, peanut, whatever-the-villain-of-the-month-is free, but they cost $5 to $6 a pound. Now the seed is a fourth of the cost. People on this forum are happy to do that and that's why Goldenfeast and Ovenfresh Bites have a following. But the person at the store who has to make a decision and cost is a real factor? THAT'S why pellets are made cheaper. Not INFERIOR, mind you. Accessible. So that we stop seeing birds die from preventable causes like malnutrition.