@millercarbon - no cell phone??????? How can you live in the 21st century? What if your car breaks down? I'm not saying you even need a smartphone. You can get a non data phone meant for people who don't know what the internet is for as the famous @mahgister would say is "peanuts". I'm sure your must be joking.
As far as the original post, I've been incrementally upgrading very s l o w l y over the past 39 years which has lately accelerated a bit since the kids are finally off the payroll (physician daughter was a marathon). I try to always make the newest component the best of the system, buy demo or used in new condition and don't collect the stuff. When I'm done with item it's traded in or sold outright.
There are all types on AG. $500 systems to $500K systems. I cringe when I hear people looking for $30K speakers or $50K amps, but I have no idea about their financial situation or their values. They could be lottery winners, or wall street types. It could be like Monopoly money to them and they are keeping up with the Joneses. Last I checked it's a free country.
