Matching the compliance of the cartridge to the effective mass of the tonearm has nothing to do with money and everything to do with the mechanical aspects of the system. Likewise, matching an arm to a suspended turntable can involve the optimization of physical parameters that belies cost.
If those aspects are satisfied, one still has some fluid decisions to make. I see arms like the Regas used on some multi-thousand dollar tables and likewise, I have seen some relatively inexpensive Shure and Grace cartridges hanging off of some frightfully expensive rigs. It's horses for courses, I suppose.
If those aspects are satisfied, one still has some fluid decisions to make. I see arms like the Regas used on some multi-thousand dollar tables and likewise, I have seen some relatively inexpensive Shure and Grace cartridges hanging off of some frightfully expensive rigs. It's horses for courses, I suppose.