A 500 quid bat, or a 1000quid bat will never make a difference to your game. Of you think it will, or expect it to for someone, you need to have your head tested.
A 500 quid bat is a status symbol, and nothing more. And they will sell as people want to say "look at my joe roots players edition"
A tad delayed but here's my two pennies:
Got a slightly used Players Edition on the cheap (about half price). It really is different in that it's incredibly forgiving. Mistimed or off-centre stuff gives me more value than, say, a knocked in OLE. Here's why I think PE bats are better (and, understandably, more expensive): They're bigger, lower density clefts than OLEs. Since they're pretty much the grade that go to the pros, it isn't your 350-quid mass-produced OLE as you're not skimping on size, which is what you have to do with even high-grade willow. The reasonably/competitively priced high-end bat will have denser wood compared to your 500-quid, pro-grade variant. I've tried most GMs on for size and response. Those Players Edition bats really do have an advantage over the punier, harder-pressed OLEs. Simply, they're not the same bats from either performance or size aspects. Lower density willow making for a bigger blade will cost you more and I can confirm that it's defo a case of more bang for your buck. Nothing like those PEs, even though I'll probably never be able to afford another.