WHY IS THERE SO MUCH HATE FOR THE HIGH END GEAR ON AUDIO GEAR?

I wouldn't label particular audio products as a "farce" any more than many other types of commercial products.  In cases where key performance metrics are mostly subjective rather than measurable, then the value can only be judged by what a buyer is willing to spend.

Many of the arguments here originate from folks wanting to make absolute judgements (i.e., better or best) about components, speakers, or tweaks that are mostly judged based on subjective, not measurable, criteria.  The subjective nature of many audio products also opens the door for marketing departments to exercise their poetic license.

I've always assumed that pricing is determined to maximize profit...nothing subtle or tricky here

"We Have Met the Enemy and He is Us"

@jl35 That assumes markets are efficient. High-end audio is the poster child of inefficient markets! That is what this and other similar threads should focus on.  Its not how much we have to pay for a particular piece of gear rather do we get what we think we are buying.

At the level participated in by many here, this is a niche hobby with a relatively wide range of products being marketed to a relatively small (and becoming smaller) audience of hobbyists.  As such, development, manufacturing, inventory, and sales costs are high on a per unit basis.  Parts and construction costs are not going to directly relate to retail pricing in many cases. 

There are many considerations that impact the difference between a successful endeavor and a failure in this industry, such as the depth of a product range, price points served, dealer network or not, volume of manufacturing operation, and more.  I suspect for most, success in the audio industry is precarious at best, mostly for people who really love audio, and certainly not for the faint of heart.

As a buyer, do your homework and realize the person looking out for you the most is yourself.  If you find some folks along the way that you develop good relationships with and can trust, remember that those relationships need to be 2-way streets to survive.