But what if you define the value together upfront with hard numbers? Makes it a shared goal, not just a bill.

Oh man, this is so true and it happens with way more than just frames. It's like the small signs of use on things just add a whole other layer. My favorite mixing bowl has this one big scratch inside, and somehow my cake batter just looks better in it. Or how a pair of jeans feels more 'you' after the knees get worn thin. That beat up frame does the same thing, it makes the art feel lived in and real, not just new and sort of separate from everything else.

Exactly what @ninasanchez is getting at. My dad fixed our toaster three times with parts from an old radio. Now my first move is to check a review video online and just order a new one. All the cardboard and plastic wrap it comes in goes straight to the bin. I never picture the factory making the box or the truck bringing it to me. The real work is all hidden.