Why is used audio equipment so undesirable?

OP, “some revelations and they are as follows:”

Those are valid for me as well.

There are some folks that love pursuing and swapping… reselling and constantly changing. There is nothing wrong with this… it is the journey they like not the destination.

For me, it is the destination. After the first few years of learning and finally assembling my first satisfying system I generally had about seven years of really great musical enjoyment and no system changes. Then I would have enough additional income to make an incremental step up. The destination always my objective. Sounds like that may be true for you as well.

I mostly buy used, never had a problem. Don't be afraid. Plenty of great bargains especially from those types chasing the "latest and greatest"

I bought an Opera tube SACD player MINT with box and manual etc from a very well off individual. The unit was like new with low hours ( and looks cool and sounds great) for $450 w/shipping.!! $2,200 new. 

As Mr Steve McCormack told me," Newer doesn't mean better" He recently upgraded my vintage McCormack DNA1 -R/1 into a "new" SMc Audio GT22 Plus. So I have a brand new -25yr old amp that probably sounds as good as a Constellation Centaur II Stereo amp for 1/3rd of the price.

Buy used from rich people and you won't have any problems.

Seems to me that there exists a thriving used market.

I have ever only purchased three audio components new:  a DAC, one pair of speakers that were not available used, and a home theater pre/pro.  Everything else is used.  

With regards to reliability, it differs by type:  digital stuff, electrical analog, and mechanical.  Assuming that is has been well treated, pretty much anything less than 30 years old is not likely to fail, I think.  Good quality digital equipment - things like processors and DACs, are probably going to become outdated long before they fail.  Older electrical equipment, which I have owned a lot of, needs a good recap.  All things electrical go out of spec eventually.  Even then, it's more likely to be amps than preamps or tuners because of heat.  Mechanical items, e.g., speakers, transports (cassette, CD, DVD, phono) are more likely to fail sooner, but still get years of service.

If you're concerned about buying used equipment that is less than 5 years old, it's probably not high quality.  Nothing well made and well taken of should fail that soon.

You can't force people to learn.

I have purchased many nice pieces of equipment on the used market. Most audiophiles take great care of there units. I have been able to have Hifi Equipment i would have never been able to buy new. Purchasing through Audiogon or Usaudiomart I have found great products and good people to work with. I would never buy on craiglist or facebook or some platform like that. Just my thoughts .