High-paying is subjective here... but if you meant emotionally or even in terms of learning skills, yeahhhh... maybe. A little bit at least.
I could have easily go to AMD, now. But I was more interested on Intel not much because of the price difference, but because AMD is still "aligning" a few things with the AM5 socket. And for these kinds of tests, on an AM5 platform, it would be a shoot in my own foot. Especially because of that re-learning memory thing...
Either way, next one will be AMD most likely, because I know what's coming (can't talk about it thought). And if all goes to plan, might even be this year... although this would be a very low probability situation.
Sorry, did go extended comment here!
Of course it is true that the price difference does matter a lot. If a person is earning good money and living a good life in one place, then it is better to live there. Thanks for your detailed comment.