I've just bought a couple of Brill titles at $25 per book, under their "MyBook" program.  The books are well-produced and I would say that the text is indistinguishable from the expensive hardback editions.  The books I have don't have illustrations, so the issue of colour->b/w doesn't arise for me.

I'm pleased with these books, and happy to have a Brill book that I can read physically, and that didn't cost their common eye-watering prices.  

I'm lucky in that my university library subscribes to the Brill Online e-library.  That's what makes this possible.

Best,

Dominik

(Declaration of interest: I am on the editorial board of a book series at Brill.)