Bridged ETH to SOL through a DeFi bridge vs. an exchanger - the fee difference surprised me

A user compared transferring ETH to SOL via a DeFi bridge and a direct exchanger, finding the exchanger significantly cheaper. The bridge method incurred wrapping fees, slippage on Solana's DEX, and higher total costs for 0.5 ETH. The exchanger offered a fixed rate, no wrapping, and faster delivery of SOL with no hidden fees.