In the last 3-4 months, I have played numerous guitars in the $2000-$4000 range, and they have generally been good guitars, but more than one of them has had some very noticable quality of build issues. Point being, I hear $4500 for a super-high quality custom build from a luthier with a great reputation like Thomas, and I don't think that price is out of line at all.
That said, I don't think someone looking for "The Garcia", with its associated $32,000 price tag is looking for the same things that I am. That customer is more interested in aesthetic details and replication of some other instrument than I am, and he should be willing to pay for that. Based on what Thomas posted, he wasn't upset or offended when people reacted the way they did to the price of The Garcia, because he knows way better than I do that those people posting that, aren't part of the market for that guitar.
Mama Mama many worlds I've come since I first left home.