Rant- don't read please!!!

I was raised somewhat poor by older parents that were young adults during the great Depression ( the real one).. My passion as a kid was quarter horses, and I learned that IF I learned to find a good one, how toget him trained, MY hobby would turn me a return on my labor and investment I still love and have quarter horses, but at 71 and triple bypass I try not to get bucked off anymore.
Then in 84 I bought my first old car, a 68 442 great survivor car for $1000. Traded it off for a paint job for my gooseneck trailer. Then I bought a 69 Roadrnner roller for $50 and turned that into $500. Over the next 20 years, maybe 30- 50 cars came and went, never kept count. The cars were my hobby, I loved them, BUT like the horses, I never felt my hobby should be a drain. Could I afford it all as a hobby? Yes, Can I still afford it as a hobby? Yes. But I refuse to be in a car upside down. Or a horse. just me.
I enjoy car people, ( those without big head egos). I have owned everything but a winge car, and turned down chance for 3 V code projects back in 94-5? but I don't like them, so I passed. If I was a true flipper I would have bought all 3 for the $12000.
I don't want any old Mopar that I regard as worth too many $ after I restore it, as I know from experience I will not drive it, and thus enjoy it for what it is, a car. So if I have $5-7000-8000 in a pretty much restored driver I am good. If I decide to let it go I at least get my $ back out. That my perspective.
I asked on FBBO what a decent restored driver, 66-7 Bel or Coronet say 318 car can be bought for real world. Usually over there, like here, you will find people that have had that model for years, many of them, and they know. So I hear, you will not find one for less than $15000. I started the cconversation saying I am not looking for an appraisal but my idea is about $8000 real world $. So one guy gets his panties in a wad, then another guy mentions a real nice car that has been advertised for sale a full year at $12,000 and NO takers.
So this is how I figure a project that has a decent running engine. usually an engine that some time in the past, it was freshened, maybe even rebuilt by PO. Costs of a decent driver for me and paying myself nothing in labor! Body/paint $700-1200, interior at $2000, front end tires brakes at $1500, exhaust, tune up, incidentals $700-1000. total is $4700-5900. OK so that is like $5000 to $6000. So IF I ant to end up with a decent restored driver: 66-7 B body 318 car ( not a RT or GTX), maybe luck up n a translanted big bloc and IF I want all tis for a total of $around $8000, I have to find thus project for like $2000--2500. I can't pay Joe on CL or Marketplace that $3000-3500 he demands for his PS roller!!!!
So how is it the guywith his restored 66 Bel. driver demands $15000 for it? Because, He paid the $3500 for the roller, and the bodyshop to do it for $5-6000 , bought an engine core and paid $3000 for its rebuild, another $100o for someone to freshen his 727, etc etc etc!!!!!! at $15000 he is still upside down! but I understand, it is is hobby and he can afford it all.
This is where prices come from????????? Rant done. ha