I don't think it's not the same thing. When you go to a pawn shop, you have to know exactly what you're looking for and be able to recognize good/bad condition. The rental store keeps track of the brands and models so they can find/recommend the correct instrument for beginners. (We actually went in and said "Our DD is going to be learning the clarinet for beginning band at () school." - they knew immediately what we needed, from instrument to instruction book. Really great shop.) The pawn shop crew wouldn't know a soprano sax from an alto sax.
My kids do rent their instruments. The music store brought them out to us, pre-cleaned, and taught the kids how to keep them clean. We were lucky enough to get a brand-new instrument that they were just putting into circulation for one of the girls. That won't happen at a pawn shop.
That's different than buying someone's cast-off that's been lying around and tested by who-knows-how-many-people, but you're right: they both require a good initial cleaning regardless of where it came from.
Regardless, it's possible the pawn shop selling these skates is just doing consignment internet business for someone, not necessarily Tai hocking her old skates, lol.