Is Akai CR-83D Really Worth $150-$200+?

Recent Ebay auction results show the CR-83D getting some pretty high
prices...$150+. I own one and never really knew what the allure was
about this deck. Not bad sound, but the build quality just wasn't up
to the older Akais.
Yeah the pre-83s have their issues, but a properly functioning/
working 80-82 blows the 83 away IMHO. The 82s have also been bringing
good $$. Maybe it's the 83s cool looking circular tape counter, or the
fact that it's not gonna give you track changing/crackling problems.
Either way, the cheap DC motor is on borrowed time before it craps out
eventually!
Lately my CR-80T has been acting up a bit. When first turned on the
right channel is weaker than the left, then after about 1 hour it
comes back up to the proper level and remains that way until I turn it
off for a long period of time. Maybe a cap is going? If the right
channel goes out completely I'll have to have it looked at.
It's not the amp as I hooked it up to another system and it does
the same thing. Any ideas as to what might be causing the problem?