the discontinuation of purchasing LEGO elements by the case
I knew it was coming, but it still sucks. I’ve purchased many a “K-2” case of basic brick as it was more cost effective and efficient than buying by the cup. Bricklink will now re-emerge (for me at least) as the prime (practical)* means of obtaining large quantity of a single element. I always prefer to buy directly from Lego whenever possible but this will make that much less likely for large quantities.
For example, a case of 2×4 brick contains approximately 688 bricks (I counted out two cases once, just to see). At S@H which sells 2×4 for .25, that equals $172. I never counted how many 2x4s fit in a cup, but let’s assume that they fit 50 (if properly stacked). That would be about 14 cups, which is $224. Even assuming you could fit a case of 2×4 into 10 cups, that is still $160, much more than the $100 per case (and I fondly remember $70 cases).
* Unless and until LUGBULK becomes more time efficient and able to purchase in much higher dollar amounts.