Why do so many members seem afraid of making an audio decision?

Having gone from a city once rich in audio retail (NYC) to Austin (which is pretty thin on the ground), many people cannot get the opportunity to audition equipment before they buy- let alone in their own systems. That of course is the ideal before plunking down your hard-earned.

The direct to consumer models, where home trial is offered, with some adjustment on returns/shipping costs borne by the buyer, is OK- I guess for smaller items- say a DAC-- it may not be a big deal. But, for larger items, turntables that require set up, cartridges- which are usually not returnable unless defective, people simply don't have the opportunity to assess for themselves. 

Thus, the agonizing. I think people are better served by user input from those who have actual hands-on experience than by the legacy audio press. Obviously, no two systems and rooms are the same either. But a broad cross section of users of a specific piece of gear should give the reader a fairly good gauge of what the unit in question can do, what its weaknesses are, where the synergies lie. 

Nothing wrong with that in my estimation. That is one of the values of a forum such as this. 

Very much associated with inability to hear vast majority of components one may be contemplating purchasing. And then, even if you can, really need an audition to hear in your system, and then that audition may need to be longer term to fully discern sound qualities.

Add to that so many choices today.

And then, as our systems evolve and become more transparent, resolving we can hear minutiae formerly unheard, makes for more exacting process to choose the component that has perfect synergy with rest of system.

Along with above evolution comes evolving cost factors, price to play continues to rise, more money on table may create more anxiety.

No doubt competitiveness comes into play for some, in order to be considered expert one has to have best. Humans do love their hierarchies, and most like to be at top.

I'm sure others will have much to say on the whole subject of insecurities in this so called hobby.

It is human nature to need validation, when making a purchasing decision and then once the purchase is made.

Sale's Psychology 101. 

Many of us have learned over decades.

Learning to listen is many many layered, the information at every level is contradictory, the investments are substantial, overall sound quality depends on the whole system, many step are counter intuitive, the benefits are frequently not fully realized until hundreds of hours of use, and many folks are not good with complex decision making to start with, at least until they have heard concrete improvements in sound quality as a result of their choices.

It goes on. Decision making in highly uncertain environments takes skill (function of prefrontal cortex) and years of experience really help.