It's more about by the time you replace needed consumables such as cables, tires, brake pads, tubes, bar tape, seat, chain, bearings, and in this case FD, maybe RD, you have more invested than you could go buy a different used one ready to roll.

It's one thing for some of these guys who would have all that stuff "in stock", but if you are going out and purchasing, especially new, you are way underwater. Often you are even better off buying another "donor bike" for the parts.