Why has audio become so specilized over the years?

I got involved in audio in 1971 when I bought my first system: Sherwood 7100 receiver (there was no remotes to my knowledge yet for receivers); Garrard SL95B turntable with some level of Shure cartridge. A pair of Rectilinear 11 bookshelf speakers.. I was given 30 ft of free zip cord speaker wire the by the audio dealer

There was no IEC input on the receiver or even a perceived need to acquire a better PC. I used a dipole antenna for FM reception, and placed the turntable on a floor to ceiling open shelf system, and one speaker on each side of the wall with an entry door to the livingroom. It sounded good and provided satisfying music Six months later, I added a Dynaco Quad adapter box, and a pair of Avid speakers for the back channels to experience surround sound.....Primitive by today's standards of specialized after market upgrades

Granted, today audio systems's provide greater fidelity of sound, and operational flexibility. Think about it. Most if not all members of AG have either quality separates or a quality integrated amp. Many have replaced standard PC's with medium to expensive ones. Speaker wire is no longer zip cord, or even Home Depot 12 gauge cable, but one brand of a variety of speaker cables boosting state of the art materials, and esoteric outer coverings to eliminate signal loss and RF contamination.

(Some).....turntables, which have made a comeback in recent years, offer an outboarded motors and power supplies. Plinth materials are exotic to insure good to excellent isolation from vibration. Tonearm and TT compatibility has been elevated to a science, and equally, cartridge and tone arm interfacing is crucial.....no more guessing or working from outdated calculations....

20 years ago, (even as short as 10 years ago) built-in phono stages were a given in both pre-amps and most integrated amps. Today, the better pre-amps are line stages requiring a outboarded phono box or phono pre-amp, (or optional uninstalled MM/MC phono cards) often with the option of a separate supply

Though not a frantic trend yet, monoblock amps are often the preferred choice of amplification of some audiofiles; however, one box stereo dual mono amps lead the market. Lastly, the advent of the miraculous one box CD player, has now been given way to outboarded DAC's and separate transport

Without speculating too deeply on these developments, there is one given that is irrefutable, after market product specialization has created a total separate audio market which is typical of and necessary for a healthy for capitalist economy.....the law of supply and demand, and new markets

Against this modest introduction, I would like to get opinion and comments from members, (especially members with large and elaborate systems) as to how much more specialized will/can audio become??? And will future changes occur for reasons of user operational efficiency and comfort, or for the continual improvement in music reproduction. Consider the growing and obsessive movement taking place regarding "music sourcing", that is, music provided from uncompressed computer music files, various Music Server Services, and Music Server Organizers, like Soloose, and other similar products. Maybe, like the predictions of the end of history in the 1980's, we are about to experience the "END OF (TRADTIONAL) AUDIO"

PS, I am beginning to hate my own modest assortment of outboarded boxes and specialized speaker and IC cables....However, they can usually provide beautiful music depending on my mood and the the barometric pressure exerted on the eardrum which affects how we hear. Thanks, Jim