| Yep Nords are pricey but guys seldom sell them and that's a pretty strong indicator of customer satisfaction - especially given Carey's sold his share. When they do sell used they have comparatively high resale value. In as much, having had lots of pups all bought used (as in resold so some were new just not new price), the only Nord I had was an MM 4.2 and I kept an EB MM and moved the Nord along. To me they sounded enoug alike to where it was splitting hairs but I'm guessing that's what Carey had in mind or it would have sounded different.
Any pup is a good pup if you like the tone regardless of who makes it or the price attached. All manufacturers make pups that sound different, have varying DCR's, and a range of applications. From all makers some I like some I don't.
Probability is if you bought Nords you wouldn't loose as much on resale as another comparable priced pup but you may well loose enough on new Nords to pay for the KA's (used anyway) - and that's something to consider if money is an issue for you. The only KA's I had were a pair of bass lipsticks - and they were fine but moved them along. Made about double on the KA's and lost a few bucks on the Nord. I've bought over $5K in used pups so I pay attention. | 
