i would like to explain my position because i am obviously in the minority, or , as one would say in statistics, an outlier.
first of all, audio is a very subjective hobby. one cannot second guess another person's perceptions.
terms like "moderate" are vague and ambiguous, unless defined specifically.
as a reviewer , i varied each component in a stereo system and listened to the resultant difference.
the only thing i would assert unequivocally is the importance of the source. it is possible to create excellent sound if one has an excellent source, such as a master tape. it is difficult to quantify the difference in the affect upon improvements in sound when changing twoo components.
for example, there would be a relative change in sound affecting a stereo system between cables "a" and "b", as well as changing two amplifiers. it is possible that a cable change may be more profound than a change in amplifiers. there arte no absolutes.
thus doug, you have posed a rhetorical question which is philosophical in nature and probably has no definitive answer.
only you can assess the usefulness of this thread.