Is it available for your direct inspection or only from photos? If the former, you are in a good position to evaluate it for functional defects. Check suspension and platter speed stability. Difference in cost between 90s and now is purely a function of the marketplace. I’d wager there are no important functional or structural differences that are not available as upgrades.
30 year old SME 30/2
I am looking at a used 30/2. It's an older one made in 94. The arm is new and so is the motor controller. the main deck is original. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice about this deck and one this old, if there is anything to look out for. It's hard to know what the value is since it retailed for much less than the current 45K. I tried to ask SME a few questions about any potential issue with the suspension or anything else but the never returned any of my emails which doesn't make me feel that great either.