People make choices, so why not to respect them. If people ask for an advice, provide it to your best ability, after all we are all chasing the same goal, having the best sound within a given environment, and within a given price class. Often it has been mentioned here that you need to create a good acoustical environment first, which is something not easy to achieve. Lots of good advises online, but still the many variables will also dictate the complexity of acoustics. The fact remains that expensive gear in a bad acoustical environment will not perform to their best ability. Many people only know expensive equipment from audio shows, where the equipment is demonstrated in hotel rooms, or hotel conference rooms. People will return home frustrated, as the expensive equipment didn't perform well. Others have tried it at home, compared it to their equipment, but in the same bad acoustical environment. It didn't make much difference indeed, so it's understandable that people say "expensive equipment is way overpriced". However, there are some people who are willing to go the extra mile, get the listening room as good as possible, and spent some extra money. They will get the satisfaction they were looking for. Should these people be condemned? I don't think so, I'm happy for them. Sometimes I read that "I can have a better sound with my $ 2K equipment in my acoustical correct listening room than others with their $ 20K in their acoustical incorrect listening room, which may be true....however please realize that should they put the $ 20k equipment in the same acoustical correct room, it will outperform the $ 2k equipment. Just don't expect it to be by factor 10. We all know that.
