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turtle, not exclusively at you no harm done, just sometimes there is a blinkered view about whats right round here, apologies if i took it the wrong way.

For the sake of likely discourse, sure the bike is cheaper, thats obvious, they usually are cc for cc and more powerful with differently tuned engines (not many scoots rock 16k rpm). But you give up a cvt and storage and a different riding position. For some folks thats a plus, for some a minus.

The big maxi scoots (400-600cc) tend to be in the 6.5-9k + OTD stuff making them quite an expensive proposition new. Plus they do not have the greatest of records with inherent design faults (the burgers have had some wicked design issues, especially the 400, and the schwing seems to have a wobble issue in some bikes).

The whole, is this pushing the price a little thing is totally valid, but you have to compare like to like. Are there new scoots out there similar in most ways that are cheaper, yes sym undercut kymco by about 12-15% although your model may be a little singed! Since the majority of the midrange 400 type models dissappeared from the market leaving pretty much just the burger 400 which is a 'prestige marque' priced accordingly, there has been very little to keep down the price of the lower scoots.
The real question will come if sym get the maxsym 400 out the door for under 6k, then a 5.4k 300 starts to look very dodgy.
I did ask before about the pricing on the jetmax, suggesting that perhaps 4k for a 250cc chinese maxiscoot wasn't reaching a little (and there were some very compelling, eloquent counter arguments made which was great) considering it put it pretty much in the sym price range. I guess kymco is doing that same?
There is a bit of a buzz in the photography world today as Sigma who make some fairly decent gear but second tier stuff mostly priced to undercut the big boys, just released a camera that was supposed to be around 1.5k for 9.7k USD. Yup $9700.00. Same thing, they are pushing it. Unfortunately they have had a bit too much bolivian marching powder and are likely to fall flat on their faces as there are already significantly better cameras in the same price range. Kymco may find the same issue.
Comparing old to new is semi valid, in that yes you could buy either, each has their own +'s and -'s, dealer support, warranty, finance etc vs it already depreciating. However, depreciation like negative equity only affects you if you want to sell or refinance. If you are keeping the bike for 15 years, who cares about depreciation If you like to flip every few years it will hurt you hard and better buy a couple of years old. On Maui you are insane to buy used. Depreciation just doesnt exist. The local Kia dealer wanted 7k for a 6 year old base model base spec'd kia with 65k on the clock that barely cost 10k new
The burger listed above is something I would seriously consider, as would the schwing, but some folks do just want something that is 0 though, its a tool, you walk out the door and it works, if it doesnt the dealer fixes it free of charge whilst you have a courtesy bike. A newer bike, once out of the teething stage should give less problems than an older bike / scoot, but how much may be marginal with a good bike.
Is 5400 too much, for that bike, for me? yes. but its really two questions right? Is it overpriced for what it is, and is it overpriced for what it offers each person.