They are kinda high maintenance too, can't just throw a bunch in a washer machine.

True, and that's one reason suits disappeared:

People had to wear a suit and wanted it to be as cheap as possible, which led to a race to the bottom in suit quality. In the end we had fused jackets and synthetic fabrics which made you sweat with people in turn not even bothering to get cuffs and hems adjusted. Absolutely horrible. This is why casual took over.

Maybe it's time for us to recognize that a good suit serves you for years and decades and as such can cost a few hundred bucks.

And despite the little supply due to classical menswear being irrelevant today, there are also incredible deals to be found at goodwills and the like.

If you're comparing good jeans and a good t shirt then not In my experience. Likewise you can also buy a crappy suit for not a lot of money. I think the core point stands that a suit gives pretty good bang for your buck now and hasn't been enshittified as much as casual clothing is.