From high end digital to beginners analog?

A 2 to 4k table plus phono should lay waste to just about any high end digital based on cd. For me, it is a no brainer as to which is better, vinyl by far, but if you were used to digital using a 96khz server based system, you might not appreciate the difference or may think the digital is better. At those rates, the differences become very minor. But for a cd based system, its no contest.IMHO

I listen to analog using a Well Tempered Amadeus and a Lyra Delos, and digital up to 24/192 via FireWire and an Apogee Mini-DAC. My impression is that the very hi-res digital is as interesting as the vinyl, in its own way. Vinyl tends to be preferable to digital as the files get smaller.

So no, a turntable as you specify it would not be a waste IMHO.

I have about 300 records that I just used to stare at, never play because my CDs via a Rega Apollo sounded much better than my bottom feeder analog.
To upgrade my analog I bought: Rega P3, Denon Dl-103r, Musical Surroundings Phonomena Nova, all used at under $1200, retail over $2K. New Apollo cost $1K. Just to give you an idea what level I'm talking about.
The analog now sounds a little better than the Apollo, I play both CDs and LPs and can enjoy either without wishing I was listening to the other format.
So I don't think you'd be wasting your money - Provided you already have records. I would not expect a $2K - $4K analog setup to blow away hi end digital, or even a digital front end that cost $2K - $4K for that matter.
The other thing with records that probably sounds cliche and overstated is the tactile experience.

I am in the same boat as you, except that I am pretty serious about getting into Analogue :). You can read the couple of threads I have started in the analog section in the last one month. I am auditioning lots of TTs these days, yet to buy one.

Before getting serious about TTs I did some homework on this domain by talking to my audio friends who as into analog playback and listening to some of their TTs. What I understood and was also advised is, if you are already into good digital playback and want to try analog playback as well, never get into entry level analog. You will be most probably be dissapointed. Entry level analog playback lets you deal with all the hassles that comes with LPs but doesnt let you hear the superiority of LPs over CDs. So it leads to withdrawal symptoms and you may miss the analog bus forever. So, in essence, get a good TT with a good tonearm, cartridge and phonostage and then collect some well pressed records and then you know what Vinyls can do for you.

Yes, 4k for a table alone is decent but you also need to keep aside about 2k for the phono stage and at least about 1k each for tonearm and cartridge. Then you have a balanced LP playback system.

I can assure you, you will not feel your money is wasted. You will be happy that you did not leave this world as an audiophile who did not do "Analogue" :-)