Thank you all for your considerate responses. This gives me an opportunity to be pragmatic about the hi-fi that is right for me.
As far as a budget goes. After a lot of thinking, $12,000 was just too much for me to spend on enjoying music. That said if I am thinking about buying into hi-fi over the next decade, a median of $6,000 and maximum of $10,000 is the most I would feel comfortable spending on a sort of lifetime audio system. The caveat being the equipment is bought over a decade.
As far as a budget goes. After a lot of thinking, $12,000 was just too much for me to spend on enjoying music. That said if I am thinking about buying into hi-fi over the next decade, a median of $6,000 and maximum of $10,000 is the most I would feel comfortable spending on a sort of lifetime audio system. The caveat being the equipment is bought over a decade.