What's going on with the audio market?

I am almost 62. Started listening to records at about 7, my Mom's stuff from the 50's. When the rock revolution Beatles/British invasion hit it was all it took to get me hooked for life.
Bought my first (for the time I thought it was) high end stuff at 19. Marantz 2270/Advent speakers/Pioneer then Technics turntable. that was about 1974. Everybody had a decent stereo in their apt back then. Fast forward to the 90s (same system til about 1993-1994). Sold it including selling off all my records and analog gear, and started playing around with newer stuff, CD players.
1996 I bought a Rega turntable and some Linn amps/speakers...well since it has been a crazy money pit that has had me try more gear, and collect more records, than any human reasonably should. I have come to realize one thing, even though it helps, it doesn't take a lot of money to enjoy good music.
This rambling brings me to the point. As I sit here writing this I am listening to Pandora from my ipad through a Marantz NA 11s1, sounds great. Since Tidal, Spotify, Pandora, etc can be played anywhere through many devices that is the way I go most of the time. I can enjoy a Logitech UE Boom, or Bose Minilink as well...anywhere.
I think the younger generation embrace this and are happy with these kind of devices. My daughter and son love music and know a lot of stuff covering many decades, they even have turntables thanks to me. However it is not their focus to have the best reproduction gear. They just love music. The music industry seems to be thriving, just not the gear business.
So I have amps turntables, CD players, tuners and now network servers in many rooms and even at my office and in storage. I keep meaning to list some for sale as I don't need it all moving forward, but as you stated, the used market is not what it was.

The high end market started to fade in the DC metro area I’d say about 1985 when Excaliber in Alexandria shut it’s doors, followed by Myer Emco, Audio Associates, Paragon of Sound (in MD), a few in Maryland suburbs the names of which escape me. AFAIK there are only two left, Deja Vu and Gifted Listener Audio, both in VA. Did I miss any?

Interesting responses, thanks!  So what I'm hearing (minus the political comments) is a shift in the market away from high-end dedicated two channel systems, a saturation of used gear, less disposable income and prohibitive costs are the main culprits to the current downturn. 

FWIW, I'm 48, 25, maybe 5

Some of this lamenting reminds me of Paul Lynde singing "Kids" from "Bye-Bye Birdie". Ours is a hobby from yesteryear which has long ago decided to catch up to the times but there will always be our kind of gear being made. There's really nothing to worry about.

This hobby of ours has made a great enough impact that no matter the times, it will always be here in one form or another. It's in our nature to cling to the past. Just take a look at any Mustang or Camaro. They bend over backwards to make sure it looks like something from the sixties (which dates it as soon as it leaves the showroom floor).

Brick and motor will suffer as the internet and audio shows take the lead.
Another auto analogy shows dealerships may be going the way of the do-do as well as manufacturers are considering online purchasing and the use of boutique stores for their cars to be displayed in, like mini auto shows. What's the matter with kids today indeed!

All the best,
Nonoise