The question is not why there are any software products priced at more than $1000; it's why the centre of the pricing distribution for many types of software is exactly $1000. Why does a CAD program cost $1000 instead of $800, or $2000, or even $10000? (CAD workstations certainly can cost $10000, so I don't think that's a stupid question.)
If this is "freelancer-tier" pricing, and freelancers don't have to worry about a price-point beyond which they must fill out requisition forms, then software priced for them should just cost however much they're willing to pay (i.e. some percentage of how much money it makes them), which should vary with their revenue, rather than always ending up at a similar global price-point.
And if it's not "freelancer-tier" pricing; if it's something else—then what is it?
If this is "freelancer-tier" pricing, and freelancers don't have to worry about a price-point beyond which they must fill out requisition forms, then software priced for them should just cost however much they're willing to pay (i.e. some percentage of how much money it makes them), which should vary with their revenue, rather than always ending up at a similar global price-point.
And if it's not "freelancer-tier" pricing; if it's something else—then what is it?