High End Audio-Gaining Higher Ground?

At best I'm trying to recreate the sound in the mastering studio which may or may not have a basis in real time musician performing.

I would agree with that. However, to get the sound of the master tape, you need the master tape. Everything else is a copy. On the other hand, there's excellent copies out there, like very first pressings, white label promos, etc. Perhaps with mostly imperfect recordings and let's face it, there's no such thing as perfect equipment, quite a few audiophiles are the proverbial cat trying to catch its own tail. I plead guilty to this as well. You really have to sit down and spare a moment to think what you're after in putting together an audio system. This stuff isn't cheap, as you know.

...and expensive mistakes have been made. I am guilty of that too.

Dave_72 you already know about expensive mistakes, I have made a few mistakes myself, not anymore. I have a problem giving advice to anyone who has just entered this hobby and what to recommend because it will take a few years of trial and error to get a grip on what sounds good for yourself. It was of little consequence to try different products over time because it was very easy to turn gear over on Audiogon at the time, so very few dollars were lost, I don't think it is that easy now.

I teach in a university and without question, young people are flocking to better quality. 80% of young people into music today are buying it solely on vinyl. I won't pretend that there is a huge interest in high end audio now, but there is a solid interest in mid-fi like Pro-Ject turntables and vintage Marantz receivers.. And honestly, I think that is more important for the health of the industry. So yeah, things are looking up for the first time in a while. Will you see them in the Magnolia section of Best Buy? No way, but you won't see me in there either, you know?

I teach in a university and without question, young people are flocking to better quality. 80% of young people into music today are buying it solely on vinyl.

Intermediatic

Really? Can you back that up with any data?