Modern High-End tonearms are cheaper on used market, so everyone can find and buy them at least for 50% of the price someone paid for new one. And there is no loss in performance if they are used (depends on condition).
When it comes to a new tonearm the shop price is a manufacturer wholesale price + distributors margine + dealers margine + taxes ...
When you buy same toneam used, your price most likely will be almost the same as the distributor’s wholesale price. This is much better in my opinion.
The quality is not always for posh people, normal people can buy the same luxury arm used for 50% off and everybody happy.
So what’s the problem ?
Today many (not all) High-End manufacturers prefers to sell direct to the customers, in this case they can make their prices more affordable and still make profit.
Also we have some amazing vintage tonearms from the golden era, some of them are overpriced even today, but some of them are less popular (less known) and not as expensive as they were 30 years ago in the high-end shops. This is a great opportunity to buy great arms for very reasonable price (used or even NOS).
Personally, i have some expensive modern High-End tonearms like Reed 3p "12 Cocobolo which i bought used for a low price compared to the price in the shops. But i have more fun with vintage High-End tonearms, doesn’t matter $800 or $2000. At least i have to find the right cartridge for each tonearm, also i have to use the arm in my system to understand how good (or bad) this arm really is.
If it’s new arm i’d buy used/demo for less than retails price.
If it’s vintage arm i’d buy it only in perfect condition (or NOS in the box if possible).
I wouldn’t buy any new tonearm even for $4k, it’s too much for me.
But i would buy 4 different used tonearms for $1k each to compare them in my system, used stuff does not lose its value when you re-sell them.
Anyway, someone can easily afford brand new $5 tonearm and that’s fine, those people normally sell them later for 50% and that’s amazing :)