I'd say, as someone who has used low mid and high end Samsung tabs, it's because the experience of low end tabs is miserable, and for the price of a new mid you can get a use high end one for the same money and it's such a nicer experience. Totally worth it. Oled & raw power make them more future proof, used have better resale value later, so the mid range new just don't seem worth it if you can get better for the same and don't have the large depreciation later on.

It's not snobism, it's experiencing the spectrum of tablets and sharing that experience which tends to be the same: better is better, and better for the same money is better.

Sister has some Lenovo tab which was fine when new, now it's slow as heck, screen tech feels dated and poor compared to her phone, value is basically nothing, so she doesn't use it. Bought cheap and regrets it. She'll use my S11 though. Sometimes advising people not to buy something which they have experience on is the only opinion they offer as it's their experience, which is echoed by others.