I've learned many things from him but I don't know why his gear that he represents seems lacklustre ... There are many outstanding so-called higher end audio gear that's out there and he doesn't seem to carry any of it.
I too have learned from Mike as he is very experienced in the business side of audio as well as the technical side. As far as the gear he offers ... He concentrates more on gear that generates (to his ear) an enjoyable musical sound vs. hi-fi-tech sound that seemingly much gear these days provides. He also shares his knowledge in the field, and also points out gear which he thinks is over-priced or over-hyped and demonstrates specifically WHY he thinks so, often by dissection of the gear to show you, to save you, the consumer, from unknowingly making a bad purchase. So not only does he provide gear, but also a service to the consumer. For these reasons, I value his opinion more than some other dealers'. You can choose to disagree with his assessments, and that's OK. But IME/IMO he is honestly trying to provide a better audio experience for the consumer.
He does offer more "affordable" gear than the NAT and Rowland. You'll need to speak with him to find out what he has. I purchased a Simon Audio CD player, NewOntech DAC, and one of his power cords - all for very "reasonable" prices. When I first contacted him, I made it clear that I didn't have much of a budget and would possibly NOT purchase anything. He didn't mind. He graciously invited me over to his place to hear his gear. He also came over to my place with gear so I could hear it in my system/room. We spent hours of time together on several occasions and not once was I ever pressured into buying anything or made to feel inferior (budget-wise). We always had a good time talking and listening to music. That's been my experience with Mike - always informative, pleasant, fair, and above all, human.