As an installer, hardwood pays almost less than carpet

In my area. Stores are paying 1.75 to 1.90 a sqft to install nail down hardwood, with LVT being 1.50 How can anyone even justify installing for that price?

I can sell my own LVT jobs and make $2.50 on installation easy. which is miles easier than a real hardwood install.

On a good day I can install about 600 ft of hardwood if its nice and open. Compared to LVT which 1000 ft is nothing to install.

I have over $5,000 in tools JUST for hardwood, for LVT i have maybe $200 of tools.

Make this make sense. Who is installing for these places at those prices?