The rule smart boaters live by-who aren't Bezos or Musk-- is less is better. You can boat fairly inexpensively and still have a great time, if you know boats, and keep it simple. The problem is that so many people always want more, bigger, etc. This inevitably leads to disappointment and unhappiness over the expense. Then they stop boating. I've seen it over and over. Friends have had a solid 23-24 center console, fishing boat, make some money, then bought a 44 foot sportfisher, which they sell within a few years because they get sick of the hassle, expense, etc.
I am from a family of commercial fisherman, so grew up on boats. Worked on commercial fishing/crabbing and shrimp boats, and got into sailboat racing and cruising later, so I know power and sailboats. Now, basic, simple power boats are exorbitantly priced. A buddy of mine got rear ended while trailering his 23' mako, and I helped him get $13k more from his insurance company than he paid for the boat. He had it for seven years. It's crazy.
Best values in boats right now are used sailboats; you can get a quality 34-36 foot racer/cruiser for around $100k, drop another ten in it, and you could sail anywhere you wanted with minimal fuel expense. And if you know how to take care of basic maintenance, that would be minimal as well. But I do expect that power boat prices are due to correct. But not fuel prices.
Less is better, unless you are uber wealthy.