Yeah I've totes got $2k spare to use on just getting an ASIC, which likely won't have any resale value, and is only valuable for a very finite time

Comparatively, I do have a nice graphics card (which I can use for gaming and stuff), and I can rent from cloud providers at price points I can afford if I wanted more access to cards.

It's not, though. You have the R&D costs of the ASIC, which you don't have to sell to the public, or can run them on your own schedule before releasing them for sale.