That was a long time ago. You can get consumer 4k projectors for under $10k. Here's one for example: https://amzn.com/B00SKK70VO

But this can't play DCP. Also the gamut is Rec. 709, instead of DCI-P3.

Still, a 'low-end' Barco good enough for smaller cinemas is definitely less than $100k these days.

Times are changing. I am very happy for these new developments.

If you have the right friends, and hang out with the right group of people, you can get sometimes unencrypted material, just like in the old days you could get film reels. But a 35mm film projector was relatively affordable, this new digital stuff is still crazy expensive.

Huh, very interesting. (And mildly obvious.)

I'm curious what I should be keeping an eye out for, what sorts of people would be the most interesting to chase, etc, to maximize my chances of causing this opportunity to present itself at some point in the future. (I'm not particularly social right now.)

You may be right, that price might have been for a Sony 2k projector.