Sony XA7ES is this still a top notch player?

Rock fool, everything with mechanical parts will, sooner or later, need some repairs. Amps hardly use mechanical parts, so will age better, but one of the first things to go are the mechanical volume pot's. As for speakers, chances are the unit's itself will dry out. And for cd-players: the transport is vulnerable, as is the lens from the laser and the laser unit itself. But it depends on the way the player is used: has it played a lot? Was the owner a smoker (that might pollute the lens)? So it could be a risk buying an older player, but then again, you can save a lot of money. IMHO I would listen (if possible), and if it sounds OK, I would take the risk.

PS Phase is right, the Rotel is a cracking player.....

Despite your name, I'm don't think you're a fool :). As I wrote, I would probably buy an older player as well, and no, I wouldn't buy a pile of replacement parts either.
Actually I use a cheap sony, which is some 10 years old, in my secondary system, and apart from cleaning the lens a couple of years ago, it works brilliantly. So I imagine a much better Sony would last much longer.....