Why was the death penalty not an expensive punishment relative to LWOP prior to the Furman decision?

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Prior to the Furman decision, the death penalty was not considered an expensive punishment relative to life without parole (LWOP) for several reasons: capital cases were disposed of more quickly, there were no extraordinary legal procedures compared to today, reversals on appeal were relatively rare, and the direct costs associated with carrying out executions were minimal. These factors combined made the death penalty less costly in comparison to LWOP before the legal changes brought about by the Furman v. Georgia decision in 1972.

Why Was the Death Penalty Not an Expensive Punishment Relative