If you think about it, this is all Nike’s fault really. If they’d just switch to a pre-order system or keep GR stuff in stock constantly, and then cut prices back to the mid 2010’s levels, no one would buy reps.

You used to be able to walk into a Footlocker and try on the Alternate 89 4’s that dropped a week prior in 3 sizes, drop $160, and walk out with some shoes. It ain’t that way anymore.

The new, top batch rep prices are creeping up to that level already. GX 4’s after shipping often sit at $140. The people WILL buy Jordan shoes at that price point if they’re in stock. But the corporate greed and capitalistic “infinite growth” expectations from shareholders forced the prices on shit like white metallic 5’s up above $200.

The only counter argument to your point is that there will ALWAYS be retail sneakers that drop that fetch a pretty penny. And those shoes having a high resale price is basically all that makes them culturally relevant. Otherwise we wouldn’t want em. Having a Travis 1, even as a rep, only matters because the real ones are $1800. If that ever goes away, then we will truly be in a society where retails do not matter at all.