Should there only be one company making gear?

I guess audiophiles could agree on gear if the components were perfect, but with design compromises comes personal preference. Plus, consumers are individualists, and sound quality is not the only determining purchasing factor. You know the story.

"Is it possible that there will ever be a piece of gear on which all audiophiles could agree?"

Agree that is great, yes. Agree to own, Hell no.

People in the middle ages didn't get old enough to contract a multitude of today's diseases. Increasing life span is because of medical science. There has never been a cure for a viral disease, so immunizations are used to "trick" physiology. Small Pox has been erradicated and Polio is on its way because of science and because of financial means. If any of you knew the complexity involved in curing, you may not have the expectations that lead you to insult an institution. Also science costs a lot of money. If one knows in the ins-and-outs of financial mess then one can judge the degree or who is at fault. I know about the patient and mal-practice insurance, which is a chain reaction hell, but there is no easy solution. My point is money is a problem, but the scientists and MD's, in general, have done a hell of a job.