Like the title says, but...

I do know that several anime series make use of 
the "chibi" character deformity in more 
lighthearted moments, so maybe that's why?  I 
don't know if Lodoss War did that, though.

The only other answer I can give is...everything 
on Mangaya is expensive!  ^^;  (No really, I 
don't know.)

Hope somebody can answer this one for you.
~Anne