Why Is Hi Fi Gear So Darn Expensive?

So here I sit looking into the abyss staring at my Denon AVR 1602 wondering how all of you fell in so deep, My feet are frozen, I cannot take that next step, but now am forced to, I don’t want to think this much,…

My father in law left us his system which is way beyond my pay grade, i broke it down, and put it in a climate controlled storage unit as it is literally a physical challenge to get it into my home. I’m 64 and had a quadruple bypass last year, and the amp alone weighs 287 pounds, 

it’s a Krell 700CX with a Krell Pre amp , digital this, and that, Theta system , The shelving stand he had it on has to be 100lbs + , Legacy speakers, etc

ive seen some receipts for thousand dollar (?) MET ‘cables’ for Christ sake,…

Anyone around upstate NY want to help me with some knowledge on where to go with this, I haven’t found a lot of information to make a decision to keep, or sell to someone who would appreciate it more then us,…

thaks

In 1912 Edison sent his salesman out across the country to pedal his new disc phonograph.  The price was up to $250.  That’s about $40,000 today- for a record player.  But things got better.  In 1968 a Marantz Model 18 stereo receiver cost $695.  That’s about $5700 today for a 40 W/ch receiver.  I remember my dad buying our first color tv in 1968.  A 25” Philco I recall it costing about $450 or almost $4000 in today’s money.  That was big money back then.  No vacations for a couple of years. 
Stereo receivers and TV’s are much cheaper and more commonly found these days but were once considered hi end luxury. We lament the high prices of luxury but historically that is how it has always been.  Same as it ever was, as they say. 

Hi tech stuff that's well made costs big bucks.Thats  life!!

Can't comment on the high-end prices, but I'm staggered by the inflation in prices over the past 2 or 3 years.

Admittedly, COVID, supply-chain issues and Brexit (here in the UK) have been disrupters, but looking at reviews only 3 years old indicate rises nearing 100%.

Paradoxically, it's made me spend more as if I delay for a couple of years on a purchase it will only be hugely more pricey.

@fsonicsmith 

The trouble with the expensive watch analogy is that they require regular expensive servicing.  

When I sold my 20 year old Omega recently I had spent more on servicing than on the original purchase.

Hi-fi can require maintenance, but nothing like this.