Are many audiophiles only seeking approval of the next purchase?

Yes. Absolutely. Some folks take decades to discover what some already know here. Many folks never get further than their comfort zone. Some kick themselves when it finally dawns on them that equipment selected by leading artists, top sound engineers and multimillion $ facilities have merit far beyond what you generally find peddled to domestic consumers.

Often I get the impression that many are looking for validation of a purchase they've already made. I've seen posts where people are hammering on some reviewer wanting to know when they were going to review the ABC Combo Dac and coffee maker. They swear it is the best ever and the best they have ever owned and when, darnit, when are you going to review it? My feeling has always been, why do you care, you've already bought it.....UNLESS....they are a shill! LOL

Yes, approval or validation. So sad...

I still laugh at an old cartoon in Stereophile :
2 guys standing in front of massive stereo,one guy asks the other,so how do you like it?The other answers,
I don’t know,it hasn’t been reviewed yet!
 As a working retiree supporting 2 aging family members my expendable money is very tight..When I post here looking for feedback I damn well want to read the good & bad opinions..This way I know what to listen for when I finally demo whatever piece of gear it might be..