A pragmatic view of cartridge expenses / many questions

@audioquest4life  : I had first hand experiences in two different home systems with the I/O .

Those high end Europe dealers and friends obviously have not attended very often to listen live MUSIC seated at nearfield or are a little " deaf " about because the I/O is very  far away from that experiences when other PS are a lot nearer to it.

I can't questioning to you because that's what you like, you are the owner.

As I posted before mine is only one more opinion trying to help but all is about you.

Anyway, as I posted our priorities are different.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

This is getting tiresome, Raul. Why not give it a rest?

It would seem at present there is consistent pricing for the MC Cartridge Brands are seen as the affordable of the more exotics.

£-$3500 - £-$4500 would be seen as a Price Range where a discount is not available.

My following report is the not so common route taken to producing a Exotic Cartridge,but there is much to be achieved, for a very fair outlay. 
The only limitation I can see in this as a method is the Generator Coil
Metal will remain.
In my case that is a Six 9's Pure Silver. 

I had a MC Cartridge rebuild that consists of a Specific Attention to the performance of the MC undertaken by the rebuild engineer,
combined with exchanging the Damping/Suspension to a design that belongs to much more expensive models in the MC Brands Exotic Models and a choice of Exotic options used for the Cantilever and Diamond.
With the Donor Cartridge Costs added to the Build Cost, I have a unique Exotic Equivalent Cartridge for a Cost of 20% of a Branded Exotic MC's retail price.

This is a method worth consideration,  as with a retip of the rebuild
 (when required) at a later date, the unique rebuilt cartridge and follow up retip can easily offer 2000+ of replay for approximately a cost of £1000 if both cartridge services are carried out by the cartridge owner.

I am so impressed with this build, having heard it A/B compared to a lows hours Donor Cartridge and a much more Exotic Cartridge from the same brand.
I did not hesitate or rest until I had secured a second  identical Donor Cartridge, that is now in storage.

@pindac What is "exotic" for you ? Could you recall an exotic cartridges you're talking about and tell us why do you think they are exotic ? 

My reply was intended for audioquest4life who was inquiring about owner/user thoughts on a using and maintaining a expensive cartridge.

The OP has expressed that are in their view,  a Cartridge is a consumable (hence the tyre reference) and their inquiry is based on how expensive cartridge owners choices are made to maintain it when the time arrives for this.

The OP expressed a lust to own a High End Cartridge, but was also wanting to know if it was a Sunday Best type approach for some owners who may user a lesser value cartridge for general listening.
My suggestion to the OP is a method to enable them to get to a Place where a Cartridge that is of a Unique Build, that will comfortably sit with a Cartridge that is a £-$ 3000+ retail value MC.
For the outlay if this as a option is to be considered, it might also seem that this is a Cartridge that can be used for all occasions and may not need to have a Second Cartridge as a Substitute, if that were so, then the OP would see a further benefit is saved outlay.

I myself entered into my latest Cartridge Experience with similar thoughts, as I have low usage Hours MM's, High Out MC and a MC.
Not one of these spare Cartridges has been put into service since my Rebuild has been in use.
The sale of one of the spare Cartridges will be more than enough raised funds to cover the Retip for the rebuild when the time arrives.   

I personally would refer to a Branded Cartridge costing over £-$1500 as a Market Place entry into offering a High End/Exotic range from a Company that produces Cartridges Model Range.

I also would refer to a retail value for Branded Cartridges more than £-$3000+, as being a Company's representation of setting the bar for the level of High End/Exotic on offer from their Model Range.

I hope my post to the OP has helped them to consider an alternative avenue for investigation, and help them see for a reasonable budget there is a option to achieve a very attractive MC in both Purchase Value and Performance.