Do high end manufacturers need retail outlets?

What PS Audio did is NOT what I would consider consumer friendly. The trade-in gimmick is ridiculous. I'm less interested in them now than I was before. On the high end, I prefer brands that use traditional dealers, and I don't see that changing. 

And I *definitely* hate paying an online retailer full MSRP (or nearly that) for something that's simply going to be shipped to me. Might as well buy 2nd hand higher-tier gear at that point. 

Do youo really want to spend $10,000 or so (and up!) for a product you have not seen, touched, or heard? And some guy who sees as just another heavy box is going to drop it on your porch? Fragile Smagile, he's got ninety mor stops to make today. If you sell only a small number of item X, you've got to buy a demo and pay to store your inventory, maybe be faced with an inventory tax. I wanted to open a store, but the City made it so difficult, (permits, business license, insurance, fire codes, handicap access + I have to house and feed my family, pay the cable bill, etc. - all that has to come out of the profit from the sale of goods) I gave up on the idea. I am thankful for the dealers I patronize.

A big side benefit of having dealers is they carry multiple brands.  You get exposed to something you may never have considered if everything was just available direct with no dealers.  Not to mention their experience and knowledge with all the gear they sell and what synergy there is between the gear.  Unfortunately not all dealers are great, but a great dealer IME is invaluable.

If you’re buying Macintosh B&w, marantz, Sony the new dealer is a good thing.

The whole issue here is the exceptionally over priced high end audio gear that exists which is not widely available. Most people buy on faith having never heard it. The high end industry takes advantage of those ultra rich people who don’t really care and would gullibly pay the higher price. The wealthy just don’t know no better.

So blame the rich people for the high prices. Not much of it is made and there’s more than enough wealthy people to buy it all. It never is available used because really rich people don’t have the time to sell older gear that was upgraded and now no longer use it.

"And I *definitely* hate paying an online retailer full MSRP (or nearly that) for something that's simply going to be shipped to me. Might as well buy 2nd hand higher-tier gear at that point."

Absolutely!!!   I have purchased some of my best gear used, otherwise I could never have afforded it  Example:  Zesto Leto preamp.  New $7500 , used $3500