Why Is Hi Fi Gear So Darn Expensive?

I was just in Vienna and bought a Carl Bucherer Scubatec Patravi. 

Carl Bucherer Scubatec

With discount and a tax refund (Austria policy for foreigners buying goods) I paid about $4500 on a watch that lists for $5,200 before taxes. Did I get a deal? No, not really. The things that go into the price of a watch besides parts include R+D, advertising, and building prestige such as paying Keanu Reeves to wear one in the latest John Wick movie. 

It amounts to this; https://www.wpdiamonds.com/swiss-watches-expensive/#3

because of quality? 

To reiterate my luxury watch analogy;

1) Parts    5-15%
2) Assembly 10%
3) R&D          10%
4) Marketing 10%
5) Profit margin for manufacturer 5-10%
6) Distribution and margin for retailer 45-60%

tomrk, I love it when you or anyone, for that matter talk about the 1960s through the 1980s. Don't forget about the early 1990s when some audio gear improved quite a bit like amplifiers. Good deal!

There are two things in play, expense and value.    Sometimes products are mediocre and insanely priced .  Sometimes a product may seem expensive but it's value is off the chart.   I try to seek out the latter.