whatz up with hi-end speakers near walls?

Sounds like a control issue. Nobody is asking you to place your speakers against the wall, and I doubt that anyone is seeking your approval, so what's the problem? Should we all wear the same clothes as you too?

You are quite wrong. Some great speakers are designed to be close to the wall.

Lugnut is correct--the Allison One, a classic design that seems to be making a comeback from the Father and Son CES pictures, was specifically designed to be flush with the wall, as was the Klipschorn (in the corner) and one of the speakers that first caught my fancy in the high end, the Snell A III. However, I agree with your point that with some (probably many) high end designs you are defeating the purpose of spending a lot of money on speakers designed to be placed well out into a room by putting them against a wall. In my case, since I don't have a dedicated listening room, I opted for a 4-piece system that has satellites light enough to carry out to the optimal listening spot from where they look, but don't sound, best when I want to listen seriously.

all rear-ported speakers should not be close to the wall. front-ported are most-likely OK in general. as far as my memory serves, snells are front-ported.

A good number of speakers were designed to be placed flush against the wall. I don't like any of them but that IS the way they were deigned.
-Vik
Checj ou some speakers from Linn, most Naim and many other British speakers and front ported monitors.