But that doesn't mean anything about the cost to repair, upgrade, or in the case of LCD replacement, modernize. The memory, flash, effects, and expansion cards are highly sought after, and you're competing with bigger budget established producers.
My point was that it reasonable to be reluctant to spend $200 to $250 to replace a small component of a device that is only worth $300.
This was in response to someone who claimed the OP should just sell it if he didn't want to spend $200 to fix it - because it originally cost $3000-$5000.
Yes, the base unit themselves might be cheap. But once you're looking at enthusiast-produced LCD replacements or optionally-purchased-in-the-90s expansion cards, having sticker shock is expected.
LCD parts are cheap if you want to put the domain engineering work and solve engineering challenges yourself. They are expensive if you're one-stop buying a targeted kit and just trying to max out your upgrades.
An HN poster might be willing to put in significantly more time head-desking and soldering to save $200. A producer buying a vintage Akai is not necessarily looking for an EE project.
To that producer, the functionally upgraded unit is "worth" a lot more than $300 since they're selling the products of it.
I agree that using original MSRP is absurd though. The S3000XL is a later model from them and can be found for cheap all over the place - they made a bunch of them.
S1100 series are sought after but those are usually close to $1k in excellent condition, and getting maxed out memory could cost $3-400.
S950 sell for over $1k usually as well.
And I don't know how I can be clearer than in the comment you are replying to: "My point was that it reasonable to be reluctant to spend $200 to $250 to replace a small component of a device that is only worth $300."
Which part of this sentence is unclear?
Your Porshe analogy is not appropriate. If a Porsche with a working gearbox is worth 35k, then yes, I'd be reluctant to spend 30k on a gearbox alone.