Where are the young audiophiles?

@jundaku - I think you're on the right track.  It's hard to really get into the true audiophile level gear until later in life when you hopefully have more disposable income.  I'm a 43 year old family man and over the last 15ish years have purchased more audio gear that I should have and I'm still playing on the low end of things.  I'm currently into the game about $10,000 in round numbers including a  home theater receiver and two stereo integrated amplifiers.  I think that the audiophile world is likely always going to be primarily supported and "financed" by the older generation.

I visited a local audio shop that opened its doors here in Minneapolis just last November.  The two proprietors are Gen X, and they see plenty of opportunity coming as their generation and younger elevate in incomes, and they see LP's as the gateway for this.  Vinyl has gotten some of the younger generations connected with the joy of actually devoting time to just listening to music as an intentional experience.  And, then, when you get to hear it done really well....there's always a very small slice of the populace who just have to hear it like that.  They're hooked!  It will never be a big slice, and it never was.

This is as tough as realities can get, but haven't seniors always been prime fodder for predatory sales tactics? In a time when anyone can buy a damn fine sounding amp IC for less than $5, and educational resources are abundant, it's going to get harder and harder to sell copper wire for $50 per foot. 

Add to that how ultra-elitist the ’hobby’ is. It’s not just about spending more money than 99% of people can afford. You also need to have ears sophisticated enough to be completely floored by the difference a single capacitor made. So it’s really only accessable to those upon whom God bestowed both outrageous wealth AND ears more sensitive than an oscilloscope. It’s a bit of a niche demographic, see?

We do exist. I’m 24 and I am just starting to build my first stereo system (I have done the Audeze thing for 3 years before this). I do have to say though I don’t think I would be at this stage this early in my life if it wasn’t for the fact that my dad is and has always been a huge audiophile. 
Of people my age, I only know one other person who is into audio. I think accessibility is the largest issue for younger people. Most people my age would never have been exposed to this world and if they have it’s typically the kind of exposure that make audiophile products seem like snake oil. Add on to that the fact that this isn’t a cheap hobby or a particularly space efficient one either and it mostly comes across as inconvenient to the uninitiated. 
That, I think, goes back to my audiophile upbringing because, as much as there are distinct differences between listening to music on a generic tv soundbar versus a pair of decent floorstanding speakers and amplification, source, etc, being able to appreciate and articulate those differences (consciously and subconsciously) is a learned skill. This is a skill that I was fortunate to start and continue to develop without realizing for as long as I can remember since my father always had music playing through how various systems over the years. 
People my age (in most cases) simply have not had the time or experience yet needed to appreciate this funny hobby.