A real "wake up call" available to most....High End Audio vs. Mainstream......

@bobinw, You make a good point. At the other end, I have worked in homes worth many millions that had neither any quality audio gear or any room that would make a good location for it.  The more recent advent of the 'media room' means that some thought was given and some money was spent but almost always the focus is ground shaking movie sound tracks.  Would be great if this group suddenly found an interest in hi end gear, the industry would welcome the support.

In many, many cases it simply comes down to priorities. I have friends that without saying it I can tell don’t understand why I spend what I do on my audio system (implying a wonder of how someone has the money to do what I do). Meanwhile, they literally have thousands of dollars monthly sunk into expensive pickup trucks and Audis that these days barely leave the garage, $2k drones that collect dust and a walk-in safe of handguns and rifles. I literally listen to music every day. For me, I feel that it is money much better spent than sinking $3,000 on a used titanium mountain bike when I have a great road bike that I ride pretty often, but certainly not every day. It often all comes down to what hooks us in life and redirects our focus due to the pleasure we experience or at least think we get from it. How much is truly self determination versus marketing manipulation is a whole different philosophical discussion that would churn endlessly:). Happy listening!

I view this a little differently. IMHO, most people listen to music as a backdrop to whatever they are doing. They like it, however it is really just background noise. If that is the case, any old music reproduction equipment will do. 
To audiophiles, music is much more than that. For me personally, music is IS an activity. Sure, I listen to music as a backdrop sometimes. But when I am really listening to music, I do just that. It becomes a visceral, emotional experience that just isn’t the same as listening to a single Sonos speaker or a Walmart boom box. 
If you just use your tools for small home improvement,a Ryobi saw is fine. But if you’re a craftsman and take pride in your work, you use a Festool saw. 

Your argument could be applied to clothes, but if you're interested in high fashion, you're not really going to be interested in what clothes people are selling on Craigslist or eBay for analysis of the lowest common denominator.  You're going to be interested in good design, and maybe search the used market for bargains.  I don't really give a rip about what bad clothes or audio systems the average person owns.

This is a serious question:  Decades ago, when I first discovered high end audio, I auditioned Rotel and did not care for it.  Recently, I decided to give a good listen to a Rotel preamp and CD player.  It was truly horrible sounding, akin to my first pre-amp, a Crown IC150, IC being proudly in the model number for it's non-discreet electronics.  Akin, as really electronic sounding!   Why would this crap be made?  It was about $4-5000 for the pair.  What gives? Are people deaf?