Simply as a practical matter, I would dispute the view (which I don't believe that David is expressing), that a $2,000 instrument is automatically a lesser instrument than a $10,000 instrument. If you look around on Tubenet, for example, you'll find a number of professionals who use older (often American-made) horns in favor of more modern and expensive ones. It's true that in a variety of these cases they have rebuilt the instrument and so have more than, say, $2000 in it, but still significantly less that $10,000. In addition, some old models of the currently very expensive instruments are known to be better instruments -- and less expensive than the new ones.
I think there are several forces that "encourage" students at different levels to believe that they need an expensive instrument with certain specific characteristics. I fear that these forces often come from music faculty and instructors (and definitely know of cases where this is true). While it is a significant service to direct a student in selecting an instrument appropriate to him or her, and that will promote musical growth, it is quite a disservice in other cases to simply make a generic recommendation based on price, personal preference, or what amounts to musical fashion. I remain bemused by the number of advanced undergraduate and graduate tuba students, for example, who believe that they MUST have a 5-valve CC tuba manufactured by a handful of German or Swiss companies if they are to taken seriously as an advanced student or professional. While the young are often rebellious, they are also easily led. Leading them in the correct direction is both a privilege and a responsibility.
Also, ... I just can't imagine being, say, 21 or 22 years old (or even 25 or 26), going to school, maybe (as was definitely true in my case) working around 20 hrs/week as well as taking a full academic load, and lugging a $10,000 instrument around with me. Even if someone GAVE me the instrument, I think I'd feel uncomfortable and a bit silly toting it around, worrying about storing it in a safe place, protecting it from being damaged or stolen, etc. Sure, I'd spend the extra money for a protective case and as much insurance as I could get on it (more expense!), but even then I think I'd be pretty anxious about it most of the time. It's a bit like: You're 18 years old, go off to college, want a car, and someone GIVES you a Ferrari! There are clearly some advantages to this in terms of coolness. But on balance there are a lot more disadvantages, or so it seems to me. Of course, I never had a car in college, so perhaps I can't speak with any authority on that subject.
Gary Merrill
Wessex EEb Bass tuba (DW 3XL or 2XL)
Mack Brass Compensating Euph (DE N106, Euph J, J9 euph)
Amati Oval Euph (DE 104, Euph J, J6 euph)
1924 Buescher 3-valve Eb tuba (with std US receiver), Kelly 25
Schiller American Heritage 7B clone bass trombone (DE LB K/K10/112/14 Lexan, Brass Ark MV50R)
1947 Olds "Standard" trombone (Olds #3)