The 4090 basically never went for MSRP until Q4 2024… and now it’s OOS everywhere.
nobody scalped the 4080 because it was shit price/perf. 75% of the price of a 4090 too… so why not just pay the extra 25% and get the best?
the 4070ti (aka base 4080) was too pricey to scalp given that once you start cranking up the price then why not pay the scalper fee for a 4090.
Things below that are not scalp worthy.
Those genres aren’t really known for having brutal performance requirements. You have to play the bleeding edge stuff that adds prototype graphics postprocessing in their ultra or optional settings.
When you compare non RT performance the frame delta is tiny. When you compare RT it’s a lot bigger. I think most of the RT implementations are very flawed today and that it’s largely snake oil so far, but some people are obsessed.
I will say you can probably undervolt / underclock / power throttle that 4090 and get great frames per watt.