I also don't see the ink cost as being a good argument. As a proportion of the cost to make the cards, the expansion symbol is completely insignificant. I don't think that sort of thing factors into their reasoning at all. That is, if they wanted to give it a different color symbol, they would do so, even if there were a tiny fraction of a penny difference in cost. The reason the basic lands have the common symbol is that they want them to have that symbol, not because they're cutting corners.
(Besides, if that cost really were an issue, white would be cheaper than any color.)