Actually the Yamaha's were some of the worst I auditioned initially (in the sense that the noise was audible from a greater distance on my desk). Can't speak for the larger ones however - but the HS5 definitely had more than the 305's I auditioned at the same time (and seemed to me to have less bass extension as well). As far as the first statement, I think that's a bit naive... the BOM certainly matters as far as distortion and hiss, which directly determines the MSRP. Clearly the noise is a breaking point for you in your selection process... however, just as clearly, for many it doesn't make that much difference.
In a professional setting it likely means even
less as it is still at such a low level that it's only audible when there is a complete absence of signal... which means you're wasting money every time you're hearing it. Sure you will get some "my hearing is so accurate that the ~2dB of contributed noise is messing up the mixes I'm doing (at >80dB levels)" - but those people are easily ignored. IMO they're the most likely to hear their cables, despite compressing the material they work on down to almost nothing.
No matter what the "right" answer is... until it is
exactly as cheap to produce a completely silent active monitor - you won't be seeing them in the lowest price tier. After all, that's one of the reasons you're likely to pony up the big bucks for their higher-tier products. LOL.