How competitive are you with your system?

You have know what the target is first to have a chance to hit it.

I can't agree more. I should know what I have which might hurt me later. The sound impacts the human health more than we know. And it's natural to avoid the bad sound (too many systems and speakers hurt our ears). 

The pursuit of best sound is relative and knowing what's available is essential. Comparing the sound of mine to other systems is a easy way to do so.

The audio companies must make the better sound equipment. Their sounds are stuck for last 100 years and the sound is actually getting worse in my opinion. Listen to TV and radio music. All new songs and recordings are tipped up and sterile sounding that I lose interest in few seconds. When I turn on the radio news, I must careful and select certain better sound station cos some stations sound hurt my ears.

My system is absolutely the cleanest sound system (most refined) and I'm still trying to improve it knowing how important my work is for the future of all sound products. So, I can enjoy distortion/veil free recordings and smooth/clean sound radios. Alex/Wavetouch audio

My system is constantly competing with me.  And it usually beats me.  It has totally dominated me in checkers; I can still occasionally win a chess game, but those victories are rare.

Matthew,

Have you tried Parcheesi?

I don't compare. That is a fruitless venture

Mostly I can't compare many of my components to others as many are custom builds or highly modified. I don't even understand comparisons in many cases as our systems, rooms, ears so unique, difficult to apply a single reference to anything. 

I presume monetary value of our components/sytems is the main point of competitiveness within this community.