Why Don't More People Love Audio?

A few reasons:
1. Things like the $20,000 dollar IC's specially blessed by a "spherically correct" monk in China. On the 7th day of the 7th month etc etc.....

2. High End salesman.

3. Little green pens and CD's.

4. Tice clocks.

5. Shun-ANYTHING

6. The fact that most "audiophiles" are NEVER happy with thier sound. I mean, why would you want to get into something that you spent more time tweaking than listening??

..Was trying to remember the time before I ate the pill and finally heard the "audio matrix". I remember looking at classifieds for some good audio components and encountering strange brands that meant nothing to me for ridiculus prices. The thing that put me off the most was not knowing if these components were really worth these prices, and, if these prices represented the top of the line, if there was any reasonably priced gear of quality. Then I started listening. And I mean REALLY listening, cause actually I'm never really as blown away in an Audio Salon as I am at home, maybe because I'm not relaxing, etc. but it's just not the same. You just can't listen in the same way. I've noticed this with friends. If I sit them down to listen to my system, I can tell they're just not going to take the time / not comfortable enough to really get it. I believe that if I could bring my system over to their place, set it up and leave it for a month, they will understand. Today I'm admittedly cursed with audiophilia (It's the knowing that it can sound even better that gets you..), but have a healthy attitude that if I can afford a Mercedes, I can afford Mark Levinson, if I can afford $5k used car, I can afford $1k used Creek. (Or a $1,500 used Rogue Tempest, if the truth be known..) But it's still those moments when I'm sucked into an emotional performance in a way that could not have happened through Dr. Bose that makes me want to share the disease..

They are fooled by some other 'trend'. Few of us are allowed to be fooled by the industry (that includes magazines such as Stereophile, that sole purpose is to fuel the addiction) that is profiting by selling us illusion.

Because what they hear/see for free sucks (radio and/or tv), in presentation and content.

There must be a thousand ways to approach this topic but I think you all would be best served to leave well enough alone. I remember the insurgence of yuppie money and ignorance in the Reagan years and I think that the ravages have yet to leave us. When I was in the Oriental rug business back then an elderly Afghani trader told me of a saying in his country: "Those who can afford it can't appreciate it and those who can appreciate it can't afford it". So it is with most things and twas always thus. Audio people are like most religious zealots in that they are quite disturbed by the fact that most people seem unwilling to adopt their beliefs. We pity them for what they are missing and dismiss their choice not to embrace our values as one of ignorance. They aren't interested and you should be glad.
During the years I sold audio in retail stores I maintained the same beliefs that many of you espouse here but the simple fact is many people just don't care. Some can make a distinction and some can't but no amount of education is going to be enough. Their focus is elsewhere. And that is good. Audio is populated by far to many buffoons at present,
as is well documented by the insipid, irrational, misspelled and unpunctuated reponses I inadvertently invite by posting any ad. A small community made strong by unity of vision and co-operation in purpose is a better goal. Suppose we do some weeding rather than blanket seeding. It's the money issue that seems most corruptive. Why don't we all relax and focus on what we have rather than what we might be missing?