If you only want short lengths of hook up wire, why not pop into your local jaycar, altronics, radio parts, wiltronics, etc and buy from them. They typically let you cut your own lengths of wire in the shop. They are more set up for that sort of thing (selling to hobbyists) than element14. Perhaps you are in a remote area and can't do that.
I get the impression that companies like element14, digikey, mouser, etc have professionals as their target market rather than hobbyists that want a few meters of cable. Not a conspiracy just a different target market.