Wise thread!
+1 OP
Perfectly rational point made by the OP.
But in reality, we cannot rationalize with a rule something that pertain to gear design, our own ears/brain measures and habits , the room acoustics, the mechanical control of vibration and resonance , the electrical noise floor controls of the gear-room-house , all these factors vary too much with our own various needs between one another to be ruled by a rule for all so to speak...
My only rule is we must go for the ratio S.Q.high % versus the lowest possible price % ... But many people here can indulge themselves without these limits...Someone able to buy many spots cars and take holidays in Paris will se mee as a poor looser here ...
Then which rule ?
The only rule is illustrated by someone owning one of the world system able to compete at the highest level : mike lavigne...
If i understood him correctly , his dedicated room cost him more than his gear system....
The only rule is then what i spoke about after my acoustics experiments ( at no cost for me for one year full time ) Acoustics sciencve rule the gear not the reverse... Psycho-acoustics rules with material physical acoustics everything in audio , even gear design ultimately depends on it as illustrated by the last revolution in acoustic on par with the transition from mono to stereo : the BACCH filtrers of Dr. Choueiri...