Mods and accessories

What's the deal here? Mod, I take it is short for modify which means change. It does not, de facto, indicate improvement. It seems that a number of members believe that the guy who designed the highly praised preamp or speaker just somehow forgot the one detail that makes it truly sing. What is it with a guy who buys a highly reviewed pair of speakers and immediately starts replacing spikes or binding posts or grill fasteners or hanging, wrapping or gluing apparatus to them? It puts me in mind of the person in the restaurant who pours salt all over his food without even tasting it first.
I'm aware that there are products built to a price point which can benefit by having some cut corners reinstated. but generally just buying a slightly richer model does as much or more. What is the consensus on this topic? Am I misreading?