Arbitrary price caps, along with its polar opposite ad hoc arbitrary high strata spending can both be a recipe for disappointment.
Ignore drinking all the arbitrary $$ factor KoolAid with all its resultant hyperbole at both ends of futile $$ spectrum debates.
The philosophy is clear: an “affordable” speaker with comparatively “higher” price quality amplification and source makes more sense than an “expensive” speaker with a comparatively “cheap” amp and source.