It's part of the overall Conspiracy!
It's like a crack dealer, the first taste is free. Once your hooked, then you learn about the dirty little secret, its incredibly addictive.
The barrel extension area can be quite a pain. I find that some good Q-tips and compressed air make a good combination to get into all the recesses. Check out MidwayUSA. They have some cleaning tools that are designed to get into those recesses and make the job a bit easier.
Regardless of your technique, it's definitely a labor of love.
Erik