Yes, what used to be "attainable" has become silly expensive, but that's the cost of "wants" versus "needs".
I bought my two M11/9 SMGs more than 10 years ago, about 6 months apart. Average paid was $700 each back then. I could have bought ten of them and stored them away (I had $$$ and no kids back then ...)
Today, NIB, they are going for almost $4500 each!!! Thats more than a 6x increase in cost! But, had I made the investment then, it would have meant 6x return on my money!!!
How many of us made 6x our money over the last decade in the stock market? I could have funded my kids college, and had money left over, with that growth rate.
As always, hind-sight is 20/20.
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dnewton3
Glock and Armalite certified armorer