01
Two coating choices
August 27 catalog: Frost costs $750M for Frozen 1.75×; Crystal costs $1B for Crystal 2×. These same rows are visible in the equipment capture.
02
What does the extra cash buy?
Between those two listed choices, the difference is $250M for 0.25 more multiplier points. That difference is a comparison of labels, not a payback estimate. It does not establish whether replacing an existing mutation is worthwhile.
03
Apply or remove
The gear report describes a coating as a single-ore mutation. Ore Cleanser costs $1M and removes a mutation; removal does not itself apply a replacement.