Tough times in the Motor City = Deals on used equipment (slightl y off topic)

I was just at a gear maunfacturing co.'s going out of business auction. It seems that I set up my home shop about 5 years too soon, as the prices now are about 1/2 of what they were then.
Good manual Bridgeports, vari speed 1 1/2 hp head machines, with powerfeeds sold for (all US $) $1000, and $750. A round ram machine only brought $125. A Monarch EE 10"x20" lathe (complete with all tooling!) went for $750, and a Cinci-tray top of a similar size couldn't get a bid at $100. Neither could a 10" universal ID/OD Brown and Sharpe cylindrical grinder. Suprisingly, an old 9" south bend model A went for $125, with 1/16" wear grooves in the ways.
Delta floor standing 17" drill presses (3 phase) sold for $25 each. I picked up 3 diamond grinding wheels for $10 total.
6" x 12" surface grinders were all selling for $100-300 each, most with magnetic chucks.
If my shop was not so full that its more like a storage barn than a functional shop, and my promise to my lovely wife that I would not get three of anything, (I have two of most things already...) I would have a new lathe, mill, cylindrical grinder, high-lo, and enough tooling to keep me sorting through it for months.
Thanks for listening, I just had to express my disbelief at the going rate for used iron in Detroit. Most of the stuff was in better shape than my machines, and selling for less! (maybe not if I consider the riggers fee's...)

Brad Heuver