They certainly can be a deep and expensive thing, lol

But it can also be very affordable! Can get a perfectly great mechanical for around $100!

(Although, now that Seiko has abandoned that price level and prices on everything have gone up in general, $150-$200 is perhaps a more realistic starting point. Still a lot of "new old stock" Seikos at that $100ish price though if you look...)

While I realize these dollar amounts are not affordable to everybody, I have noticed that many people who scoff at these prices happily spend hundreds or thousands per year on their hobbies and entertainment....