If you don’t want a part of your body to get sore, then that part shouldn’t be pushing against something that doesn’t move along with it. That’s the thinking behind the vabsRider bicycle saddle, the two sides of which pivot in time with your pedaling.
Do you prefer the praying mantis bars, or the under-seat steering? I hear you on the price, I’ve been eying the Hase Pino Tandem for a while now. The driver is upright in the back, while another rider can pedal along recumbent in front. It’s a marvel. Test rode it 2-3 times and I just can’t bring myself to fork over that much dough unless I have to (which is why most of the recumbent riders in my life did it). Also knowing I’ll have ongoing maintenance costs the whole time I have it and some of those parts may not be off the shelf.
The guys who ride the recumbent trikes have it made though, they can pull up their wheeled lawnchairs in a circle and reach behind them into the attached cooler for some snacks.
I prefer uss, but it’s really a per-person preference thing.
I bought a used Infinity a few years back. Quite affordable, even with shipping. Sure it’s old and heavy and has nothing modern. But damn fun and very solid.