For me it's not the prices so much as time. Time is a much more limited thing than $$, people can earn/save/borrow/steal for anything they want bad enough, including cars. I just don't have the interest to waste much time on a car "hobby" which is just a life-sucking thing.
I speak from massive experience. Maybe if you're young and live out in the country and really need something to fill up some years and months, that is the opposite of my situation these days.