Games continue to get cheaper to make as middleware improves and advancing hardware lessens the need for optimisation. If companies choose to spend more on games despite this then that’s their problem.
Atari 2600 games couldn’t run at anything other than 60fps since the system didn’t have any way to retain frames so they could be displayed multiple times. The program had to be constantly outputting graphics data to keep up with the TV’s refresh rate.
That’s why you stock up on 1ups using the end-of-level cards. Make sure you’re running with a full P-meter when it comes on-screen and hit the left-hand side and it’ll be a star every time.