Why are record cleaners so expensive?

Thank you, @hodu . I wasn't complaining at all but merely saying that in terms of vinyl cleaners, I had a very basic one and wanted to know what separated it from a $3K one.

And, @whart  and @cleeds , I'm not complaining about anything. I'm simply curious as to the construction and machinations of expensive vinyl cleaners that warranted their cost. Still, even if I had $3K to drop on a vinyl cleaner, I doubt I'd do it unless, as @ebm pointed out, I had a substantial investment in lp's.

It's all relative, though, as can be said about any purchase/value.

@cleeds To each his own. Thank you for clarifying some of the economical and mechanical reasons behind my original question.

And yes, as you condescendingly point out, when "that little holiday is over" all I'll have is "photos and memories." However, I find those to be worth far more than any material item I've ever had.

@mapman You put things in perspective - as you usually do.

@whart Look, man, there was no antagonism implied or intended. Especially not if people are going to get bent out of shape over a question about a mechanical device.

"Most folks are allergic to hype, and I’m not going to tell you that veils were lifted or the orchestra was in the room. What I will tell you is that I’ve spent a fair amount of time and money messing around with various record cleaning methods, machines and techniques and not only have a lot of records, but some very valuable ones. I can get a record very clean using a basic VPI. But some records, particularly older records that have been exposed to who knows what, require multiple cleanings, and in my experience, multiple approaches. That’s where the combo of a couple different devices, including ultrasonic, starts to pay off."

There - that's what I was looking for in the first place - that and @mapman 's earlier take.

As for the suit, fly rod, and vacation - those are all objects or experiences custom made for one person only (or a couple, in the case of the latter) and not really suited for anyone else. That's a far cry from a mass-produced (relatively speaking) cleaning device.

I probably will invest in a VPI once my collection approaches a decent number.

Hey - one more question. The Spin-Clean has those two immersed brushes, right? After you manually rotate the lp three or four times, you're then to take it out and let it drip the "bathwater" for a few seconds, then dry it with the supplied cloths, rubbing with the grain until the lp is dry.

I've been doing this, then setting the lp's in a metal rack to air dry. Should I even bother with the cloths? Or will the Hunt brush remove most of the fibers?

@cleeds  No, my mind wasn't made up beforehand, but yours obviously was insofar as the histrionics of your replies.

I get it: you're passionate about a vinyl cleaning machine. I'm ambivalent, really. If I had 3000 lp's, maybe I'd invest in one, as Mapman suggested. I don't know if I'll ever have that many of anything (except grains of rice), so I probably won't spend $3K on an Audio Desk, seeing how I don't need one.

And thank you for your words of wisdom re: Fijian vacations. As someone who has taken a few of them in my life for $3-5K, I cam attest that they are indeed one of a kind experiences that didn't involve run-of-the-mill resorts. Perhaps you should get off the beaten path more often -- before you face the vinyl curtain.

Anyway, thank you to the rest for all the technical info about cleaning machines. I know my little Spin-Clean is probably the equivalent of an Easy-Bake Oven when compared to a really good stove; I just wanted to know why and if the cost was justified.