The LFS is only selling it at $1 per lb more. You can find it on ebay a heck of a lot cheaper. I believe you are confused with the term "live rock". That only means that is has bacteria already growing on it but you can get dead base rock and it will become LR in time and save you a heck of a lot of money that you could use on equipment. I kill every bit of rock I get my hands on before it goes in my tank, I'm not adding someone else's problems in mine.
Does that make it clear as mud????