As I remember (and remember that disposable income for audio was higher then and the market much bigger), there were far better head-amps and transformers around back then. I even remember my AT630 being better for many MC's.. The price difference between different cartridges was skewed as well, Linn charging way over the odds for the Asak for example, yet a DL110 staying at £60 for years until re-discovered all over the internet and the £'s weakness pushing the UK price over £100, where the Asaka/Klyde, Karma/Troika, Arkiv/Akiva just getting more and more expensive. I can't get a handle on things now, especially as income etc hasn't kept up. Working where I did thirty years ago, we dealt with high-income clients, by and large, so a couple of hundred (then) on an Asak or £500 on a NAP250 didn't seem a difficulty. I only learned that the parts cost inside a typical Naim item was a tenth of the retail price some years later and even then, it didn't matter like it does now...

P.S. The DL103 hasn't changed in price for thirty years or so, as it was £90 or thereabouts back in 1980 IIRC. Until not long ago, the subtle and understated DL304 was well under £200..