Istanbul extremely crowded, almost impossible to get into trams due to long queues ...

That sounds more crowded than when I was there in August! The trams had a lot of people, but not jam packed, and I don't recall long queues to board, except for ferries.

I was there on a package tour in October, so we were using our own tour bus to get around....

Yes, crowded at hagai Sophia and blue Mosque. I think that's why I liked the basilica cistern so much, not crowded or hot.

We did all three of those and lunch and were then taken on a brisk march towards the spice market, I opted for a "sit down coffee with western style toilet " instead of spice market.

I had gotten $400 usd converted to lira before I left home.... this was more than adequate for 7 days because our breakfast and dinner were always included at our hotel. We were told to budget the equivalent of $20 usd for lunch, which I think was accurate.

We spent the other 6 days in Turkiye out in the country side

I was there just a few weeks ago and the weather was beautiful and the crowds werent bad at all. Did all the touristy stuff on a Friday, Basilica Cistern in the am along with the Grand Bazar and Spice Market, as well as the HS and Blue Mosque in the afternoon once they opened. No issues with crowds on trams or at any of the sites, we walked right in to all. I did get scammed at a tram ticket machine and posted separately on that. I didn't find prices to be too bad at restaurants or for street food. The Hagia Sophia is outrageously overpriced for the privilege of walking through the 2nd story, down a ramp and back out. Blue Mosque free and much more beautiful. Istanbul is awesome, a busy BIG city, great food, friendly people, and i can't wait to go back and see more of it.

I wonder if there were cruise ships dumping loads of people when you were there?
I was there in August 2024 and it was tourist season so it was crowded, but I didn't see long lines for the trams.

I’ve been reading reports online that travelers are experiencing exhorbitant prices throughout Turkey—not only at Istanbul’s attractions, but at restaurants, cafes and museums around the country. A recent post here said the Galata Tower admission price had risen to €30 per adult! . A friend with a house on the Turkish coast says the cost-of-living has shot through the roof for Turks with the “misery index” rising. Rents and grocery prices have risen beyond what most Turks can comfortably afford.
He said he thinks it’s becoming increasingly difficult for people to have an enjoyable vacation with the sticker shock affecting both travelers and locals— maybe more so for travelers who visited in prior years expecting a repeat experience when they return.

When I was there in 2019, the Turkish Lira was valued at about 7 per US$1. On a return trip In 2022 the Lira was trading at about 16 per $1. Today it’s trading at 36 per $1.
That is quite a changed landscape.
It is said that a single person can live comfortably in Turkey on the equivalent of US $1,200 per month.
The problem is the average monthly salary in Turkey is about US $600 per month. For a 40-hour work week that comes to an hourly wage of $3.40 per hour.