Yes, the AT VM540ML and VM740ML are very good and backed by measurements. It's also very good that the stylus can be swapped out and LP Gear has additional stylus options as well.
Where does moving iron fit into all of this with Permalloy, Supermalloy, Finemet (nanocrystalline), etc.? From my reading Moving Iron has less failure mechanisms than MC, much lower manufacturing cost, low rotational inertia, replaceable stylus (sometimes), and if designed right incredible channel separation. I've also read that in order to get inductance down they can be built to be low output just like MC.
Grado has MI carts but their low output versions have non-replaceable stylus and elliptical. Their prestige series have replaceable stylus but are higher output and only bonded elliptical. I would consider them if they had a nude stylus with something better than elliptical. I wonder if their low output versions really need to be non-replaceable.
Soundsmith has exceptional MI cartridges but I refuse to pay their astronomical prices.
I'm with you. What would you consider a fair price?
Moving Coil - I would say all the prices are too high and low $300 is the absolute max I'm willing to pay without some sort of trade in program. The LP Gear BIN 323 HOMC @ $320 is the best current
value in my opinion however I wonder with a stylus at 5 x 20 µm is it really line contact or elliptical?
Moving Magnet - Personally I think Audio Techinca has priced theirs appropriately and I can't really imagine house brand or Chinese company competing too well with their AT95 and VM540/740. Especially with all the stylus options.
Moving Iron - I believe pricing closer to Audio Technica's VM540ML/VM740ML ($250-320) is fair with a replaceable stylus. The Grado Prestige line comes the closest but once again I'm not a fan of their stylus options. Also, I believe they could release the MI low output versions in a Prestige casing with a replaceable stylus if they really wanted to. But with a small minority willing to pay high prices in a wooden case....
Of course I wished for a Chinese company to compete at vastly redued prices without loss of quality. But it appears that may be a pipe dream.