I don't think any one has gotten rich over buying Hi End gear and from a business standpoint it is a poor investment but a necessary one for audiophiles.
Realistically there is a point of diminishing returns as you climb the dollar ladder of high-end and eventually you reach a point that one is no longer paying for good sound but for bling only. That doesn't mean this high priced gear does not draw an audiophiles curiosity and it is very interesting to look at. I wonder how often audiophiles splurged on a piece of gear that was far more expensive then what it replaced, only to find out it don't sound as good or there was no synergy with the other components. Funny sometimes the entry model sounds better then the next model up because it has a simpler circuit.