Why do better MC cartridges cost a fortune?

And custom tonearm too, and they should be voiced together. Now that would be worth paying for, I would hope.

Why do better MC cartridges cost a fortune?

Why do YOU think they're better?
Just because someone charges $10,000 or $15,000 for a MC cartridge....and some people are happy to pay that.....what makes you think the higher priced cartridge is BETTER....?
I've heard a lot of high-priced MC cartridges and I can tell you that IMO they are NOT better.....
Not only are they not better than the lower-priced MC cartridges.....they are not better than most of the  $200-$600 vintage MM cartridges that I have in my collection. Nor my favourite vintage MCs.,...
Why do you think that in Michael Fremer's infamous 'shootout' of 9 cartridges (8 of them MMs)....the $9,000 Ortofon Anna (the only MC) came fourth behind a bunch of low-priced MM cartridges....?
And that was in the  Continuum Cobra arm on the Continuum Caliburn turntable....👅
This 'myth' about higher priced cartridges and MCs in particular (propagated mostly by Reviewers) is swallowed hollis bolus by a gullible audience at large, who.....generally can't compare side by side, on multiple turntables and multiple arms.....the validity of these reviews.
But neither can the Reviewers......👹 

Well here's a challenge for all those Reviewers (and Audiophiles who wish to claim MC superiority)......
I will pay Business Class airfares from anywhere in the world to Sydney, plus one week's accomodation to undergo a controlled 'blind' test at my place.
The test will have my two turntables with a total of 6 arms and 6 cartridges.
Any challenger can bring one MC cartridge of his choice which will be mounted in one of my six arms.
The other five arms will have a selection of my low-priced vintage MM and MC cartridges plus one $10,000 'current' MC cartridge.
Here's the challenge.......

• Identify the MM from the MC cartridges (twice)
• Identify the high-priced MC from the low-priced vintage MC (twice)
• Identify the challenger's OWN  MC cartridge (twice)
• Match the cartridges to themselves (i.e. identify them)

Here's the chance (Reviewers and Pretenders) to prove your 'Golden Ear' abilities  if you're brave enough.
If you fail.....you'll still have a nice trip to Sydney.
It just won't be free.....🤗

Halcro, if you are right it will make me happy, but I would like to hear what other very experienced audiophiles can say. It may also be a problem of defining "better" objectively. As I understand, correct me if I am wrong, no MC can compete with 'best' MMs in terms of coherence and impact.

Inna,
If someone is willing to pay $10,000-$15,000 for a MC cartridge.....the least he would expect (I imagine) would be to be able to instantly identify his precious treasure from the ’riff-raff’.
Imagine his consternation if he can’t......😱
I say he can’t........

I won't argue, I don't know.
Michael Fremer must've upset many people with what he said. Even worse, that table and arm are thought by many to be one of the handful of the very best regardless of price.