>>50746
My problem with that trading practice is twofold:
1. the aforementioned exotic goods for knickknacks
2. for horses.
I think the first point needs no explanation, but the second does. If merchants accepted horses as payment, they pretty much would end up with a herd in short notice, which they should herd on from that point - doing the job of nomads. And merchants aren't nomads, but merchants.
Well they are nomads... Here I have to mention the point I made elsewhere that calling steppe people "nomad" is false. Anyway.
So merchants aren't herders, they would need to employ herders for herd all the horses they got in exchange for their goods. This is silly. The mobile "nomads" can herd their horses to markets if they want goods. It is no use to travel to them for that.
Ofc I can make up reasons why would be a good idea to seek out the steppe people on their homeland. For example for furs. Or felt.
Beside horses steppe people can also herd other animals to the lands of sedimentary people, cattle, sheep, goats, and even pigs.
But all this from the top of my heda. Perhaps will think more.