Dollar value (the old model) is unfortunately driven by collector syndrome, rather than by shooter value. That and woobie factor (for me a whole lot of woobie factor). They get rarer every year it seems, and pricier. Like rimfire-22 said, the old ones (in excellent condition) are costing more than the new ones are now.
I have no idea what the galling thing is either, mine doesn't, nor do any of the other SS S&Ws I own (j-60, k-66s), although might not be all that totally unexpected, as someone said, in an autoloader slide if run tight and dry.
Accuracy must vary. Mine shoots head to head with my k-17s (meaning great), despite 4" vs. 6" barrel sight radius for mine eyes. Decent DA trigger too, though not a k-trigger, as not expected. Having "too small" hands probably is an asset to the shooter (me) in this particular case. Bought mine LNIB "maybe unfired" about 3 years ago, a $500 nose bleed, but the woobie bear was gnawing hard on me. No regrets. Like j-frame said.
Never had any luck myself finding those Rossi versions for $200, (or finding hardly any of 'em period); looked for 'em, would have liked to sample one, but don't need one now. You can only have just so much fun.
Ready to find out how well a model 651 does for me. Sometimes you eat the woobie bear, sometimes the woobie bear eats you. Time to find out, I ain't getting any younger.