no not ripped off, if it saves your kids lives it must be worth it hey? thing is as brakes wear the fluid level will drop, if it got that low as you said they must be well worn, plus your wheel cylinders must of been leaking to, when you put the new brakes in the calipers have to be pushed back so the level will raise again. maybe you could of got it cheaper but then you could of crashed the car and the insurane company will use it as a way not to pay out.