Would you still pay $10k or more for a turntable not full analog front end these days ?

well, it's a hobby for people with resources for sure, $$$ helps. I feel that my lack of funds has taught me a lot, how to spend the little wisely and focus on enjoying what I have and chasing good recordings and not gear.. 

I agree. But I slowly keep improving my gear too, step by step, without spending much, but still of course spending.

of course. And the caveat is that going cheap often ends up the more wasteful route. I am stuck with broken used gear that I could fix if I bought parts, maybe, maybe not. 

@inna my turntable is 42 years old and was pro-consumer state of the art when I bought it. I have about 10,000 Records I might buy a second turntable but first I’m buying a new tube amplifier and a new phon0 pre but neither of them will cost $10,000. With $10,000 you should buy land cause they don’t make it anymore.

Buying land with $10k may be a good idea but how much of it could I get and where ?

I never go cheap, I always jump not make one or two small steps up. This includes NOS tubes. I can't afford the very best but I try to go reasonably high.