Dear Mr. Tennis, you are missing the point of what a dealer does, a dealer is more than just a lending library, a good dealer will guide the user to picking the right components and accessories that will make their system come alive.
When you work with a good dealer most likely that dealer will become your working partner and can help guide you to create the sound you are hoping to create.
When you do the go it alone route it is just you without the benefit of professional assistance, now I am not saying that over the years that I haven't met some talented and well informed end users, but in most cases I have been able to make huge improvements in peoples systems often without changing a single component.
It is very rare that an end user can match a professionals level of experience.