Has anyone made the jump to $uper High end and were disappointed?

The entire premise of the OP is sort of funny…and I doubt the act of "jumping to Super High End" is what anybody actually does, except for a tiny minority of wealthy sales pressure victims. Tiny. Reading magazine reviews without a basis in the reality of "It's a Magazine Review" seems rare except for the foolish, and in spite of Kaitie's comment I think the magazines are still interesting and alert people to what's out there. There are plenty of people who take forum posts too seriously and buy into nonsense (bags of pebbles, magic fuses)…but that's generally harmless also.

@geoffkait 

"There are two high ends for audio. One is in the solid grip of upgraditis, that one tends to be solidly Anti Tweak, believing that the secret to sound quality is the electronic circuit, expensive parts and “solid engineering” - in quotes. The other high end is more of a tweak-oriented group, focused on improving the sound through cleverness and thoughtfulness. THIS high end operates by assessing the weaknesses in the audio system and coming up with solutions. You know, the group that doesn’t read reviews any more. The ones who don’t buy Stereophile or The Absolute Sound anymore."

Exactamente

@ivan_nosnibor 

While I'll agree that @geoffkait post is more accurate and thought out than many of his other posts, to some extent it is not entirely correct because there is yet a third (that I can think of, perhaps there are more) high-ends for audio.

The third condition combines elements of both high-ends as indicated in his description.

Ricred1. My opinion is Jeff’s change has nothing to do with “sound quality” and is rather the same old, same old of everyone who enjoys writing, critiquing, expounding — ie attracting more audience <•> <•> — or advertisers € £ ¥. Again there’s little New in these rather pedestrian callings. But I’m here watching too - a little porny ?? Ahem. Sorry. Corny - that’s the word I’m looking for ;)