Is there usually a dramatic difference between $5k and $10k cartridges ?

kudos to Raul! +1 - analog system performance relies on all pieces, thus there could be bigger setup problems than cartridge. 

Inna, buying expensive cartridge, with hope it will open analog experience horizon, is the same as buying Ferrari to use it as commuter for everyday shopping, work, etc.. Ferrari driving experience will be framed by road condition, traffic, fear of getting scratches etc. If you like to make you feel good and you have money to spend - go ahead and buy $10k+ cart! You will find nice looking magazines with pictures and reviews, you also will finance with your purchase! Buying Rolex will not deliver more accurate time info comparing to simpler watch! Analog sound magic start with musician’s creation, then it is amplified with recording studio work, and finally is pressed into vinyl. Vinyl press is never checked with ultra-expensive TTs+carts, most 80..90s vinyls were tested using Audio-Technica/Ortofon professional grade MMs. 

@rvpiano +1 "What type of LP would be up to the task of producing such high quality sound?"

Vinyl records produced/tested with “professional” grade carts, with focus on sound accuracy. 

"Better equipment makes everything sound better, regardless of the quality of the recordings"

-only if you know what “better” is! LOL

"some do it right” - who does not? list would be welcome! :-) 

atmasphere, I was talking about vinyl records quality-control / sound-check, not cutting press-form process equipment.

"some recording studios use $5 per mile cables to make recordings” - not really, helped Sony Studios Toronto to find some interconnect issues, they have the best professional grade cables / connectors / mixers / amps / speakers / audio-processing EQ you can imagine! remember, there are only few actual cable and connectors manufacturers (OEMs), unless DIY, users typically employ cable-shop products..

@inna some fb to OP: discussing sound quality, using only price of cartridge, is pointless.. there are many $400 cart (80s price) outperforming $2k+ current offers.

the biggest task of building perfect analog system is to match cart/tonearm/phono-pre/pre/amp/speakers/room to give you what you want!

"driving a Lexus and a Bugatti”..so, assuming our roads/hwys driving circumstances, are you saying Lexus is better? LOL