I got mine in a split, so it worked out to be a dollar & some change per ml. Considering I love the scent of Aventus, it lasts forever on me, gets compliments & is my wife's favorite on me, and it's very versatile, I consider it one of my best fragrance values, actually. Would I pay full retail for it? Nope, but these days you rarely have to, as long as you do your research and are patient enough to buy at the right place at the right time.
There are plenty of "popular" or highly acclaimed fragrances here on basenotes, that either I don't really see what's so great about them, or even can't stand them, so I completely get that there are plenty of people who don't like or see the appeal of Aventus. Personally, I do. It develops beautifully on my skin over the course of an entire day, and maybe I got lucky with my "batch", but I get wafts of pineapple throughout, as well as rose and vanilla at different points, with very little "smoke." Hype or no hype, I don't care...it's easily one of the best fragrances I've ever had.