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If an over-the-ear tech is available for civilians for $70, I would guess that an in-ear police/military version is $850, with an upsell option to integrate with your existing radio communications system for only $1150 per pair. I'd also call it "active hearing protection system" and never, ever refer to them as "earplugs".
That's comparable with a good hearing aid, only because the health insurance payments system is superficially similar to government procurement contracting with respect to profiteering middlemen.
Again, this is only a guess, made without supporting data by someone who owns a foil hat.
http://archive.armytimes.com/article/20090908/NEWS/909080313...
> Soldiers can adjust the rocker with a quick "click" depending on the amount of protection they need. When it's in the open or "weapons fire" position, sound can travel through the sound channel filter into the ear.
> For noisy environments that don't require an acute listening capability, such as around helicopters, troop carriers or generators, the rocker can be switched to the closed or "constant protection" position.
There's also larger over-ear kinds that are integrated with comms:
http://www.bosssafety.com/p-10356-peltor-comtac-iii-a-c-h-he...
This style has both active and passive configurations.
They don't seem to have variable attenuation based on the acoustic energy, though. If the soldiers find them to be acceptable everyday gear at all, there would certainly be funding available to engineer improved internals.
The over-ear comms-integrated rig is priced at double my estimate for what an in-ear version might sell for, which tells me that I was probably underestimating.
