Why Don't More People Love Audio?

Yup me too.

I did have the advantage of employee discounts at the time though to help me stretch my very limited student budget that went into both equipment and buying music regularly.

I started off as a kid with a Magnavox record player with built in amp and fold out speakers. Actually that belonged to my older siblings. I really started out myself with a $10 transistor radio, then a $30 8 track player, then a $200 Sanyo compact system as a gift at about 13.

TOday kids start out pretty well with computers, tablets, mobile phones, etc. compared to a transistor radio or even a Sony Walkman. Plus they can download and acces a lot of music for free. SO they have a big head start at their age than many of us older geeks.

IT's probably just "high end" audio as defined in these parts that more do not love.

I think many love good music and good sound and find their version of it in more ways than ever tehse days, often on a limited budget.

Many people do love anything "high end" though in general. Especially if it would fit their lifestyle. Its just that most just want enough good sound to fit their needs. And most also want high end cars, houses, clothing, cigars, mates, etc., the list goes on forever more than they do "high end" audio. The numbers don't lie!

The only solution is to offer better value over time in "high end audio". Then more will come. Will the "high end" vendors profit more or less? Like most things I suppose it all depends.

I doubt if cheaper high end would make much difference. Make something that you can sell for $50,000 and sell ten of and live off that.

The average American worker makes less today than 20 years ago.
With globalization ,aka semi-slave wages in 3rd world, it will only get worse.There is no course but to fleece the well-off to rich consumer.