Price isnt what determines a player or a collector. I first became aware of this with my own experience-
I was using a plain jane Tad I paid traded into I might have had $800 into it, It was my player for 3 years, Ane during that time in my life I played ALOT, at some point the finish on the cue wore off-Tad finished suck so I had Jerry Franklin repaint it for me and save the Tad wrap cause I like Tad wraps better than I did Jerry's wraps. I got the cue back and started playing again-ALOT. Jerry passed away and now that cue became special to me, its the ONLY one like it, period. So I didnt want to risk anything happing to it, its not a expensive cue but to me its a very special cue as Jerry was a good friend. I still play with it from time to time, I have owned it for 18 years or there abouts. Thats a player turned collector.
What makes a collector cue is collector cues cant be replaced, for what ever reason, senemental value, builder passed away(Gus, Bushka), you dad gave it to you etc. Just looking at the price is no indication on collector thats just a superficail number used in trading it. Losing something that cant be replaced costs alot more than $$$...
I have cues that I play with regularly that cost over $20,000 and collectors that might be worth $1000, I would rather lose the $20,000 cue because it CAN be replaced. thats how I see the world. Dont let the $$$ blind you or cloud your thinking.