I think the assembled have stated nearly all of the aspects of this turn of events. Ultimately the market's contraction and the shift towards 'I-gadget' convenience is going to radically change what is offered and what 'makes the cut' to market. That....and what will line the pockets of stockholders, as that drives the 'vc' market basically. The sale of 'potential' has become more relevant than actual sales of a product, whether it exists or is still 'under development' or 'in beta' or being touted as the 'next Big Thing'. When we see an infant company being bought for staggering levels that may be other than real cash on the table, I suspect that future investor/buyers are being dangled bait to buy stock in the 'new venture'. Admittedly, there are those ventures that will come to fruition, will 'hit big', and actually have a product. A 'known name' assists in this aspect.
And then there's the 'vaporware', the ones that become the 'next big nothing'. And I'd bet there are those that 'got theirs' from it, knowing when to step off the wave before it fizzled.
VR and MR are already being looked at as being 'bigger than cellphones'. That's where the major money is moving now. The B&W deal is peanuts, as was/is Dior....
Expect a shakeout of the 'artisanal audio' market at some time soon...those of us that 'know the difference' (or feel we do) are truly dying off. And digital reproduction is overwhelmingly cheaper to the mass market. Analog will still remain, but it's market will contract to the few that enjoy 'that sort of sound' as it has already....
Wait for the product that will offer 'analog sound' digitally. It already exists in pro audio for musicians, amps and processors that simulate 'tubes'. We can try them now...start a whole new forum on which ones sound better, which tube/tube combinations they simulate best...
That ought to be lively.... ;)
Not trying to be snide or jerk anyone's chain, really...just MHO, more or less like yours. *S*
