Well I would like to know what the £8 million went on in Breakfast Club because that film looks like it cost about 2 or 3 mil tops. Anyway the point stands the film mentioned were originally concept, and the filmmakers were given freedom to make the films they wanted to make, and that just doesn't happen often enough nowadays.
Also you mention the likes of Juno, Garden State and Take Shelter, but to me those are indie films, they might be the top end of the indie market, but they are still indie for me.