Well @mahgister I agree with many of your points, but I sense you take your perspective too far and diminish other experiences and audio realities to severely.
Perhaps few with coslier system will think so that my claims contradict their uopgrades history ...
Not the majority of people with low budget will all think so though for which i claim that acoustical, electrical and mechanical embeddings controls matter much than a costlier upgrade...
And most people unable to take the time and unable to have the luxury to own a dedicated room will think as you too that i exagerate completely ...
But acoustic truth dont care about democracy or price tags proud owners ...