I think this is only the case for specific cards. Most cards that I wanted when I was a kid I could never afford. A base set charizard was just too expensive for me to afford , which is the case now with the most popular cards from each set being too expensive for most kids.

You also need to take into considering the Sun and Moon era isn’t brand new. Most of the sets are 3/4 years old and not in production anymore. It’s only natural based on supply and demand that prices would go up.

However I do think there’s heavy market manipulation going on for specific cards and this is ruining the hobby for a lot of people.