"There are two distinct marketplaces for guitars, and almost any musical instrument. There is the 'beginner' level, which is basically school aged children... Then there is the high end collector market, who spend the big bucks"
This is missing out the vast midrange of working musicians (or erstwhile working musicians who still play a lot privately).
In the Fender world, collectors might buy old or particularly prestigious models, but your standard MIA Strat is a working guitar that won't necessarily appreciate in value but isn't typically bought by beginners (or collectors, for that matter). Same with many other brands (such as those you'd see played by guitar bands); while Ibanez or Jackson might have a relatively cheap model aimed at beginners, they also make rock-solid working guitars that you see played in your local bar or club, or in studio, or on stadium stages, but not in a collector's vault.