I am reading through this and you are talking about, in the current market anyway, rare pricing on used PRS Core guitars. When I started buying all my Core guitars, I worked with my friend who managed GC. We'd go through GC Used, I'd find a guitar I liked, he get it shipped over. If it was in the system 90 days or more he'd knock 10% off. Since he knew I was a habitual buyer, and a cash customer, if I wasn't happy with the condition of the guitar vs. what was listed, he'd knock a percentage off for every "injury".
I paid $1299 for a 10-top DC245.
I paid $1499 for an SC245 57/08 Limited in mint condition.
I paid $1850 for a DGT in a one-off color with an Artist package - Quilted maple top and Brazilian RW.
I paid $1350 each for two different Paul's Guitars with Tremolos.
I paid $1499 for an MC58 with an Artist grade top.
I paid $850 for two different CE22s.
I paid $1000 for a different CE22.
I paid $1700 for a P22 trem with a 10 top.
I paid $1300 for an SC250 with an Artist package.
I paid $1000 for a CU22 trem with a 10 top.
I paid $1100 for a CU22 trem with a 10 top.
Why am I sharing this? It was in a past time. These used prices are uncommon, rare, or impossible with the current market. Why would somebody choose to buy an SE over a used Core?
SImple. EVERYTHING is over-priced in today's economy. Even SE's are more expensive. Many people are financing purchases. It's hard to finance a killer deal on Craigslist. Reverb? Ebay? One can try Affirm or Paypal 4-Pay, but it may not work out for them. Most banks won't finance a used guitar purchase, so new is the only option.
Another reason? Some people don't really care. They think anything over a certain price point is stupid. Personally, I just bought a $139 guitar on Amazon. Why? My wife liked the way it looked. After spending three hours with the neck doing a mild fret job and refinishing it to have a gunstock oil and wax finish, it slays. I LOVE playing it....
I spent more money on a single PRS pickup to do this WHOLE guitar. Economics, man.
However, the "mojo" - in my experienced opinion - is close enough with the Cor-Tek SEs to make me a convert. During the World Music-era I tried SEs but HATED them. Now with the Cor-Tek guitars I have a comfortable carve - the Core carve looks AWESOME, but using the guitar on stage was only a little bit more comfy than playing a Tele. Personally, I like the bevel on the S2 line BEST for playing live.
At the end of the day, guitars - brand, price-range, model, ALL of it - are a personal choice. You choose to purchase one way. Cool. Others, myself included now, buy SEs and are quite happy. They play great and sound awesome. I do SERIOUSLY modify mine, but I really don't have to if I am honest with myself. Three of my SEs are modded to ALL Core components, whereas my HB II Piezo is still stock - despite already having EVERYTHING to soup it up to Core specs. It sounds great as is.