The whole concept of buying on the used market has HUGE merit. Here's why:

1) Let someone else take the "depreciation hit." As soon as a new item goes out the door, its value drops by 15% to 20% or more. It is a bargain to the next buyer, especially if it is gently used.

2) The "Bathtub Curve." This is a phenomenon of product life: Most product failures occur either during the initial few uses, or at "end of design life." In between is a relatively long period of normal use without incident. Most products that work properly past the first hundred hours of usage will make it to the engineered end of design life, or "mean time before failure." So chances are EXCELLENT that a properly vetted, used or refurbished product will last a very long time. Not only are you getting a lower purchase cost, but the initial owner took MOST of the risk of failure!

3) Warranties. Many used equipment dealers provide 90-, or 180-day, or six month warranties on used equipment in good or better shape. They know the bathtub curve, and figure they'll take an occasional hit to their insurance when a product comes back.

So if you HAVE money for a new item, go ahead and buy it, if you are still not convinced. The people who can't afford that new thing, and the people who CAN afford it but want more utility from their money, will buy it used, when the first buyer has remorse, or loses interest.

I THOROUGHLY research anything I buy that I intend to rely upon for a period of a year or more. I don't buy "lemon" products. I want hassle-free, low maintenance, user-friendly, reliable, long-lived products that I can count on to do what I ask of them. I'll gladly let others take the arrows in the back for being card-carrying members of the "bleeding edge" club. Most of my camera gear is purchased used, these days. I'll buy a current model that's been out a year to 18 months and seen retail price cuts. But I'll get one in "like new" or "excellent plus" shape. It isn't any less useful to me than a new one.