Most of my equipment I've bought at deep discount, either new or ex-demo.
I built my first real hi-end system during the 1998 crash then built another during the 2008 crash.
EUR,GBP and JPY are at very low discounts to the USD now and anything you buy in Europe and the UK will have an additional 20% VAT deducted for export. Most gear can be easily re-configured for different voltages.
Cables don't wear out and popular brand names provide excellent value, even though they are expensive.
Find a dealer who'll treat you well and appreciate your repeat business and upgrades, they've always got demo gear they want to sell.