IMHO, NHDave got it right - value is relative. A musician, however, should never take advantage of another player who might be down on his/her luck. The laws of Karma, you know.

Along this same line (thread creep), I read a great feel-good story this weekend. John Stewart, formerly of the Kingston Trio (He replaced Dave Guard)had an auction to raise money for his wife's medical treatments. She is suffering from brain cancer. One of the items for sale was one of his treasured old banjos. The story is that a group of his "fans" got together and paid a hell whole of a lot more than it was worth for the banjo - and then returned it to him as a gift. In my mind, they all got more than market out of that deal. Value is, indeed, relative.