“When it comes to price people can charge what they want for what they create. If you don’t want it. Don’t pay for it.”
Dead wrong. Economic systems are not something handed down from God: they are social constructs. If you don’t like $1.2M audio systems, instead of not buying it, change the system that caters to millionaires. You are just being an apologist for laissez faire capitalism nothing more.
That said:
I’ve been at this hobby for 55 years. There was a guy named Hafler who built Dynaco into a little juggernaut of high quality - affordable!!! - gear for the lumpen proletariat types like myself. Hundreds of thousands sold. Rebuilt Dyna units are still the best bang for the buck out there today.
Prices today are a reflection of the (passive, like you maybe?) acceptance of the grossly unequal economic structure we have in the U.S. today. It doesn’t have to be that way.
This is the main reason why I don’t bother with new gear, I just keep the stuff I have refurbished and in top running order. I’m here in audiogon mostly out of curiosity or FOMO. But I will put my 38-67 year old gear up against anything on the market today and while it may not be the best according to some, it will righteously acquit itself.