No tears here.
A good musician can play a poor guitar and make it sound fantastic.
If you know how to play you do it.
Electric guitars...meh. Almost anyone can play one but a musician can get more out of it.
Now an acoustic...! BIG difference!
Oh sure an aged, broken in instrument will sound better but again it’s the musician.
FWIW I have a SILVERTONE I bought for $6 + $20 shipping over a decade ago. After my setup and a couple of years aging it sounds better than most ELITE acoustic guitars.
It’s my go to ax.
I have other guitars including a Silvertone ALL SOLID WOOD guitar that will smoke any Martin, Gibson, Guild...and I like Guild.
It’s all in the setup and learning how to use the tools you have.
I just picked up the acoustic guitar last year for the first time ever. It’s a humbling experience combined with an occasional breakthrough.
LOVE my Martin. Been playing it for at least 8 years now, all broken in, every scratch (and there are a LOT) is MINE. Wouldn’t give it up for anything. Electric...meh....