Are bad rooms keeping the hobby alive?

You are on the money. Talking about rooms just look at the number that don't even have 'any' soft furniture to help with simple standing waves. At the same time, i think if all rooms were suddenly perfect it would'nt be long before us music & sound lovers(perfectionists) would be looking for improvement in equipment & sound again. They keep on building better Lamborghinis don't they, and there is nowhere to use the potential the car had 10 and more years ago. Full as little eggs kids will still say 'we want more'.

Yet you have people who believe leather is 'soft furniture'. How many significant others would let you use a rolled up rug, of course from the odds and ends bin at Home Depot, as the poor man's tube trap. Talk about tweak.

Chadnliz, I'm glad you're enjoying the room! It was a dream for you, so it's immensely satisfying when it call comes together.
However, just to develop the argument (not at all in the negative sense; Chad is a nice guy!), I'll disagree with you (just for fun). How long have you been in your room? Less than three months, I believe. You're not even out of the honeymoon phase yet. Just wait...until you get the idea that because you're in this fabulous room upgrades will sound better! And indeed, they have for me; i can't say that my enthusiasm for good gear has been slowed at all by the room. In fact, it may have increased, because now I have an ideal environment to hear the equipment much better.
How much debt do you have after your project? If none, then you are truly blessed. But, I sure wasn't hyper on upgrading when looking at repaying thousands for the construction of the room. Once that was out of the way, wala the Upgrade Bug bit again!
Let's see if in a year you're as completely content as you are now. Knowing your history on Agon, I'd say that you will be back to your old tricks of looking for upgrades in the not too distant future.

It seems to me that there are two types of audiophiles: The one who buys and listens for years, and the one who is always on the upgrade path. My guess is that for those always looking for new toys a dedicated room, after dispensing with any associated debt, could fuel the fire! I wish it were true, my friend, that the room would cure "Upgraditis" but alas it does not.

Typically, the more money people spend on luxury goods, the MORE people want to spend. It's very encouraging to see all the responses of contented people, but I would suspect that's the exception in the larger population rather than the norm.

My hope is that people keep balance in their lives, and not overspend in audio or any other indulgence to the point that it disrupts more important needs/goals. If one lives within their means, then upgrades are all the more a joy!

I think OCD has more to do with keeping this hobby alive than bad rooms, though bad rooms do certainly play a vital role.

Cheers,
John

I dont believe for a minute that I will never upgrade or desire to but there are several threads where I did swear to not do anything until my room happens and I kept that promise.
I am just thinking outloud as usual that many buy wires, pre's, amp's and so on in hopes of over powering what they dont understand is the major issue, that the room or placement or combination of a few issues keeps them in a state of dis-pleasure and system flux....but that is good for business and it trickles down to us unable to afford many new retail prices, no matter how much I would like to support helpful and kind dealers.