Point of higher priced streamer?

There's not really any difference. If the software passes the stream without interference a raspberry pi4 is as good as anything else. Those who claim all these exaggerated differences are not doing proper or even any type of controls in their listening experience. Take them all with a grain of salt.

Lowrider 57 : I can’t edit the thread. I omit DAC.

mgrif104 : I’m not debating. More like curious.

I’m saying this because in case of DAC, its neutrality can be measured. Then designers basically do coloring. Some people like this coloring factor, some people don’t like it. Personally, I pursue peculiar coloring (it’s really specific pattern of distortion technically) for the speaker. Maybe the most among components. Then I like to maintain neutrality to fair degree for other things like Amp and DAC. 

But in case of Streamer, technically, as long as it delivers, there should be no quality difference.
At least this is my understanding.

If you feel any difference, I’m really curious what kind of technical perspectives factor in.

Fundamentally, saying streamer makes SQ difference is like stating my room router affects the sound quality and character.

My experience is that there is a difference.  I own the Arcam rPlay streamer (now discontinued) and bought the highly touted Node 2i to see if it was an improvement. It wasn’t nearly as good.  Returned it.

It totally doesn't matter what streamer you use.  Just like it doesn't matter what turntable or arm you use on your turntable, as long as you have a good cartridge that measures well.  Wait, that's not how things work, is it?

In an audio system, everything matters. Obviously, some stuff matters more some less. It's up to us to determine where we spend our money. Hopefully by trying for ourselves, rather that posting something online to simply confirm our biases. Confirmation bias works both ways