The main problem (for us clients) is that providers can now easily build their own website and there are lots of advertising opportunities. So there are more indies than ever before and they choose to charge whatever they think they are worth. They might get less calls than if they charged 50-100$ less, but maybe what they make in the end is enough for them.
The 300$/h mark is a no-no for me. I can live with paying agency rates.
I might make an exception one day for Maya Fox