The problem has been aggrevated by the trend toward industrial design in fit & finish of audio components, which adds materially to cost without improving performance.
No Kidding! $50 drivers in a $10000 speaker cabinet...at least the piano black finish looks impressive because that is mostly what you paid for...even though it does nothing for the sound!
Doubtless there are DIYers with pale skins from too much obsessing over oscilloscopes in sunless basements-- and who rarely come up for air or music. But for every one of these, there are 10 suckers born every minute who eagerly pay a rediculous premium for nebulous improvement in some new audio component, or conduct an endless merry-go-round of transactions in audiophile nervosa on Audiogon.
EXACTLY!
=> An "informed buyer" will recognize beneficial science/design from "meaningless hyped specifications/formulas/hyperbole", or from outright "snake oil", AND, at the same time, will have a good ear/memory for what sounds right musically. Both are essential. One without the other is quite lost. Think Gordon J. Holt.
Unfortunately for me I have tin ears...so I am lost from the get go!