I hang out on AK and my system is excess of $65,000 with McIntosh, Audio Research, Krell, Sony SACD, B&W Nautilus, and transparent cables.
I also am tickled to death at finding good sounding gears for a few hundred $ that comes way too close to my main system for comfort.
One of my 3rd systems I assembled for $70 and it sounds quite good! If you heard that, you would agree... It's Denon Cd-Receiver with Klipsch KG speakers. What a synergy it has - provides good music while I soak in warm water (please be very careful not to let water near electricity - as we all know, if you too have a system there)
Some people don't have the money to spend like some of us, but they deserve great music too - please don't knock it.