You'd have to be an Olympic standard bellend to demand a box you thought reflected your status as a 1901 punter. I share your difficulty in believing that one.
The cost saving argument is rather undone by the incredibly lavish presentation boxes and 1901 enamelled badges (what kind of nonce will wear one of those) that accompanied the unnecessary new cards and lanyards.
I don't know off hand what my match day 1901 experience costs me but I have found good quality catering tea bags online at 0.5p so I'll have to disagree with PB and say it looks like penny pinching to me.