Regardless of how much you've spent...

Been at it for 35 years or so. It got worse a few years ago until I realized I was never going to get the ultimate system. It wasn't as important as my daughters' education.
Justlisten, relax man. Your frustration is a bit frightening.

It's been well over thirty years since I bought my first component. I enjoy reading about things out of interest, particularly technological and industry developments, but I don't obsess anymore about upgrades or equipment. For me, reading about most equipment is like reading about a $300,000 Ferarri or Rolls-Royce. It's neat to read about it I suppose, but I'll never own one and I really don't care or desire to own one. As time passes I find myself less interested in "things" and more interested in my music. I'm content. As the song says "Don't worry, be happy".

I just don't keep up with all the new stuff anymore, visiting dealerships and listening every weekend, but I think about mostly speakers all the time, what a particular model sounds like, can I find it on ebay, ect. For example, I've always wondered what those big Bozaks sound like, or what that 30" woofer in the Electrovoice Patrician can do.

I've always been addicted to music, and I've always enjoyed good gear to reproduce it. I remember buying a Yamaha receiver back when it seemed weird that Yamaha produced something other than motorcycles. It had a clock in it, and the On/Off switch was removable in the off position, like a key. Kind of bizarre, but way better sounding than the dreck of the day.

I couldn't afford super nice stuff in my earlier years, but always had good sound and lots of music. Almost forgot about it all when I had young kids, but the last 10 years have been a nice mix of revived interest and the financial means to pursue good gear. I'm no more or less interested in the gear than I've ever been - regular improvements are nice and the system sounds really great at all times, and music is playing constantly. All around, it's just a great hobby.

Justlisten...

#7 should NEVER happen.... Always unplug or at least power down all gear before doing any system changes. It will save you tweeters, fuses and countless other items in your system and takes only a few extra second to do!