Pete,
There are 2 things to consider here. First, anyone capable of home building an A cat, can build one at min weight now if they do it right. Cal Fuller was building Plywood A’s with aluminum mast, beams crossbars etc at 200 lbs 25 years ago. Many of these are still sailing. I think it would be possible to build a Ply hull with carbon beams and masts boat pretty close to 165 lbs.

Second point is what we should be discussing is not purchase price, but yearly cost of ownership. My last A cat 2000 (Boyer Mark 4) cost me less then 1000$ per year to own for 3 years and I sailed it about 150 days total.
Last Fall I bought a used 2005 XJ. I think that it will cost me ~2000$ year to own as long as I don’t smash it into someone.
You only have one sail to buy and they last along time if you use an older sail for practice. New mains with battens run about 1500$ delivered. Compared to a spinnaker equipped boat the sail replacement costs are cheap and you get great sails.


Cheers
eric