Rolex vintage prices

[Kayaker52]

I know this may be a really redundent topic but I have to go there.In 1986 I purcased a 1016 Explorer from Lewis&Son in NYC for 465.00,this was my 3rd Rolex purchase since 1971.I believe that the 465.00 price was relative to the times.That year I paid 78,000 for my home on Staten Island NY,before the big dump in 2008 it was valued at 489,000,it has now dropped to 356,000.That 1016 that I had is now about 5500.00(correct me if I am wrong experts).Being some what middle class,I can not afford to purchase another 1016 for the prices they are asking.I just can not get my head around the CRAZY prices of older model Rolex watches.Have more folks tuned in to the so called vintage Rolex market?I know hind sight is 20/20 but this throws me out of the game on ever buying another Rolex GMT,Explorer 2,Submariner etc,which I have had 2 of each model 20 years ago.....thanks Brian.