I think the "best" makers are all now using CNC. There's a Holland and Holland video on youtube which shows a CNC machine making an action. To use an economist's term, I think the makers are just trying to extract the last ounce of "consumer surplus" from operations. That is, trying to ensure that the new guns go to the users who value them the most (or, more likely, value the brand most).

There's still good value in the used market for best guns. $30k will buy a very nice piece that will hold value and appreciate over time (but don't expect fast or strong appreciation). Other than best guns, the Scottish makers are good value. I have a very nice Charles Ingram sidelock, cased, that I bought at auction for $7k - love it. I think the P. Arizzabalaga (Spanish) guns are also beautiful to look at and offer good value. There's a world of good stuff out there and I don't know the half of it.