The problem is, Germany (or France for Romandie and Italy for Ticino) is EU - unless you look at labels closely, that cheap meat is probably sourced from the eastern countries like Poland which have truly abysmal record on meat quality and safety (ie using salt for roads for meat/food and distributing it also in surrounding countries). If its from Germany and cheap, be assured the lowest allowed standards were adhered to (or not).

Swiss have mostly higher safety standards than EU, plus much higher wages. Thus the prices.

As for smuggling - I do it too... but it depends which border crossing you use. On some, chances for search are maybe 20-30%. Way too high risk to save maybe 100-200 chf and risk a much higher fine. On some crossings I know nearby to France, practically 0 (but even at those, I have sworn border cops are never there till I saw them once in 10 years...)

Oh aye, I remember the supermarket meat quality while living in Germany being variable.

Where I live now (still EU) the origin and various other traceability information has to be available, and for some reason meat quality is far higher.