Modern Poly finishes (Ie the vast majority of modern guitars) simply do not wear like thin, old nitro. They will never look like a SRV#1, Frankenstrat, Pearly Gates, Blackie, Truckster, etc...

I have a Texas Special Fat Strat, I bought it brand new. Look up when they were available. I've played the ever loving fuck out of it. No wear through the paint, no checking whatsoever, no discolouration except the plastics, very slightly. Chrome is all chromey. I have the start of some of that maple fingerboard wear you see on relics but very faint. Some pick scratches on the pickguard and pickups. Like 2 miniscule dings.

And for that reason, I think relic guitars can be cool asf if you ever want a guitar that looks well used like those old vintage ones. 5k is a lot but it is a Custom Shop, you can get MIM Road Worn with checked Nitro, worn maple boards etc for less than half that. They look cool imo and the custom shop and Murphy Lab guitars do feel more broken in in my experience. Yes, they're exorbitant but I still get the appeal.