Has the internet been good for audio?

The brick and mortar stores have got to evolve with the internet. So do the manufacturers. Extinction is the only other option.

I never would have paid the prices for most new gear and would still be with my 80's system without Audiogon. Nobody lost any market share on me.

Early in my audiophile journey, I realized the gear that truly impressed me was simply too expensive. That combined with the(sometimes) elitist attitude of dealers left me cold.
I abandoned the hobby for about ten years, returning once I disovered the great deals and invaluable forums of sites like this.
Incidently, the internet has also allowed me to find more respectable dealers out of my area.

For me the answer is YES, YES, YES!
Were it not for the internet, Audiogon in particular, I'd still be listening to the Sansui/Kenwood/Sony and yes, Bose system I purchased back in the 80s when I was stationed in Europe. Seriously, take a look at my system. Everything purchased through Agon or ebay. And don't even get me started on cable purchases.
Another aspect is the ability to communicate with the niche manufacturers. I've been able to communicate, through email and phone, with the owners of quite a few companies.
How can I forget the amount of new music I've discovered through various sites.

i prefer direct contact with designers over opinions and perceptions of listeners. i learn more from talking to manufacturers and designers than i do from the often conflicting statements of hobbyists.

the one benefit of the internet is finding phone numbers of small companies with products of interest who don't advertise in stereophile. i rarely buy used gear so used audio marketplaces are only occasionally of interest when i sell, which is not that frequent. audiomart was a frequent source of selling and occasionally buying.

In Central Ohio there are just a handful of shops to hear high end gear. The variety is decent but limited. The internet allows for websites of dealers out of state, and the creation of Audiogon, as well as plenty of high end information. Audio in general, in my opinion has benefited because we all can link up in a way like never before. (Manufacturers, Dealers, high end consumers) The odd man out is the local dealer. They suffer because of the proliferation of used gear that was never available before. But the downside for me is that without the internet I never would have spent 5 figures on gear.