Much truth in that statement. The MS Wheel Mouse costs (in volume) about $2.50 US or £2.00 UK. The equivalent Logitech costs the same. You can buy either with corporate branding (+10 US cents, subject to volume) to advertise your white box PC manufacturing company.
Perhaps you hate the form of the mouse on the computer at work, but you'll be in a minority. The manufacturers have done such a good job that few users think or care. Unless the devices are weird, mice just work as mice.
Hats off to the creator of the scroll wheel. Twenty quid to 68KMLA funds if the creator worked for Microsoft.