Wow. Maybe it’s me but I don’t see where the confusion is coming from.
Just like cars , the new ones will be better in every way for less money, and true with many other things.
Perhaps the confusion is the audiophile folks here think purely in terms of buying something with no emotional involvement and only it’s performance matters?
I have a very nice main system, all “ new” stuff but also have vintage gear, Marantz 2325- Pioneer 1050- Yamaha 640- JBL L100 - Apt Holman- Adcom etc and love it all and the sound because it brings me back to listening to music when I was young. BTW some of it sounds really good!
Yes the prices are getting high but have you noticed a BMW 2002 from the 70’s is big money?
Some buy vintage to get something they wish they had, some to revisit stuff they had and then the hipsters want a look and some rarity.
They all are enjoying it and isn’t that the point?