Potential buyers--as they appreciate the tech as they grew up with it--are exiting their riding years at the very least. E-bikes of all quality levels continue to flood the market. There are many good things about e-bikes, but so many are trash, and thus a scourge to pedestrians, cars, their owner's pocketbooks, bike shops, and in general, people's eyesight. Cost of living vs income lines continue to diverge on the graph, which among a million things, gets people on e-bikes for necessity but not really into regular bikes for fun/hobby. Economy and resulting lack of disposable income say hello, too. I was able to move my BMX bar-converted Cannondale MTB from 1991 (absolutely the perfect new owner!), but the tall stuff remains without interest.
Flashy and new will always sell, and while there is a lot of sketchy stuff still coming out of China, there are a number of companies that have made solid products that are not only well-reviewed, but (crucially) lasting for a few years. The massive price disparity compared to the big brands is more than enough to take a chance on the QC.
The high-end stuff will always be pricey, or stay proportionately higher than pretty much everything below it. This will continue as availability decreases. Suntour Superbe Pro is getting a lot more expensive. Dura-Ace 7700 is either somewhat pricey or part of a 25-year old mostly-complete bike for less than $200. It's an inconsistent market in a few respects. Tons of deals, which is great, but it's buying the decline. The victory in doing that lies in the purpose: Riding the bike/parts and not using it, as mentioned above, as a store of value via collectorship. Many new bikes (from reputable brands) are really good. I don't see vintage with a resurgence unless newer bikes are completely unavailable. Vintage will be here for the romance of riding such a bike, and as a still-great, very affordable platform for transportation and modification.
I'm trying to keep my pockets deep enough for the 65cm+/- frames/bikes as they come available when their present stewards pass them on. You know where to find me, but please, take your time and ride them until you can't any more.
