Secondhand prices on minifigures are strange?

Hello, boomer here, just entering the hobby and there are a few things I don't really understand. Up until now I collected old analogue cameras and watches, and the general rule was always - first edition (e.g. older) has a premium while newer stuff can be bough for cheap. E.g. a 1952 Leica is more expensive than the same model released in 1975 What I noticed with Lego figurines, especially Star Wars is that that's not necessarily the case. Often collectors put a premium on "better...