I do agree there is a floor under which you do not want to go, if long term durability and service matter.
Nice used S&Ws can be hard to find, and in that regard a new Ruger SP-101 is an option, and $200-$300 dollars less expansive than a new S&W 617.
The SP-101 is not a bad option, but most folks will probably want to replace the hammer and trigger return springs to lighten up the trigger pull.
Ruger also still seems to be having some QA issues. My SP-101 went back to Ruger twice with severe leading issues before they decided it was "non-repairable" and replaced it with a new one from their latest production run. It was a painful six month process, and I'm still out $72 for shipping after Ruger lost the receipt I enclosed with it.
The irony here of course is that with the extra shipping expense, and a new set of springs to lighten the trigger pull on the SP-101, I'm within about $100 of what a S&W 617 would have cost me. With the lighter springs, the trigger on the SP-101 is a fine pistol, but it's not shooting at the same accuracy level as an S&W.