Some things are easy to buy.
That's pretty! Look at that! I want that one! It applies to just about anything you might want to buy from a guitar to a motorcycle.
I have no 'need' of an alto sax, but not going on holiday this year frees up a shed load of cash for other things.
Did I want to buy a working horn? Mainly yes. One sticky key is not a problem, it being some delightful vintage thing is not a problem. I like Vintage Stuff! I'm a biker and an engineer and a saxophone is a mere mechanical contrivance. I can fix it. The 'cheap' not working ones went for more than the tight-fisted Yorkshireman wanted to pay.
Is it just me, but if low Bb is missing you play the octave above, or maybe leave a moment of silence, or even play a fifth above - it'll be reight. Best of all the audience won't notice. (they won't notice. really)
I'm a beginner at this sax thing. As long as it is fun that's fine. Plan A is to work through the exam grades. A bit of discipline will do me good. If some modern 'post 1920' things are missing, well, I'll live. A friend of mine rides a 1907 Triumph motorcycle. I shan't bore you with the many 'modern' features it is missing. Damned Good Fun Though! (to add to the fun she's a transexual - had the Full Monty op about 30 years ago)
I did try a proper Purple Logo Yamaha soprano sax when I bought the Selmer Model 22 Soprano, and I went to Bradford fully expecting to come back with that purple logo Yamaha. YouTube made it clear it would be good.
It was 'big boys toys'. I could tell if you put the effort in it would be really really good, but it was not 'fun'. It was the equivalent to giving a Ducati Desmosedici to a biker on 'L' plates, except it wouldn't kill me!
The rattlin' snortin' vibratin' Hardly Sportster is doing my hands in. I'm looking for a 'sensible' replacement. The local bike shop had a Ducati Panigale V4 in. Only £35,000. If I wanted it I would have bought it in a heartbeat. 214HP, what on earth would an old man like me do with that? And my body hurts when faced with rearsets and clip-on handlebars.