I lately wonder why I’m an Audiophile.

You are completely right!

I goes too far about "hi-fi enthusiast  appellation..

I was focused on the pejorative attribution and  refusal of the appellation "audiophile" by some...i am not fearful of this word... I am audiophile (interested in acoustics ) and hi-fi enthusiasts (tweakers) 

You are completely right about the era... I come to this world in 1951..  and /or 

@mahgister ”hifi” enthusiasm suit(s) me less well…”

For once mahgister l am not in total agreement with you. I believe understanding “hi-fi enthusiasm” and the origins of the term is an age thing. I think l am older than you (l presume) as l started on this hobby in 1968. 
 

Hi-fi enthusiasts were in those early days of stereo hi fidelity were not buying super priced high end products…. They didn’t really exist. Those that bought the best at the time had decent well made mass produced products reasonably priced. People like myself would experiment with the gear they had and would try and tweak the best sound they could out of “what they had”. Trying different cables to the speakers involved simple solutions like solid core copper mains cable is one example. The hi-fi magazines at the time talked about ways to achieve small gains in quality. The  press was more about the electronics (for those gifted in the knowledge) or building your own speakers and maintaining your equipment. Not like today’s magazines that just want their readers to buy more, more, more, and reap in the advertising money.

So l have to disagree with you thinking hifi enthusiasm means spending larger amounts of money over what an “audiophile” does today. Looking at the history of the term hi-fi enthusiast, to me it means more about spending less money and getting the most out of what you have. It also means buying more vintage gear and being satisfied with it, for what it is. Much the same as a car enthusiast that wants to restore a classic car. He makes it the best it can be, keep it up to standard for the age of the vehicle.

l believe audiophile implies buying the best you can, maybe like @rvpiano suggested about “obsessive” and sometimes at fantastic prices?. Of course like yourself you have proven that you can buy cheap and nothing wrong with that. I think that makes you a hi-fi enthusiast. Getting the best out of what you have with little expense is more about enthusiasm than anything else l know.

Personally I've always preferred the term 'hifi enthusiast'. 'Audiophile' has aways sounded a bit more than a little pretentious than I like. Too much like a title than a description. I hate titles.

I just bought some stuff from England online. I filled out the order which was duly rejected because I did not include a 'title'. I used 'Mr' which was acceptable but dammed if I know why. I almost typed in 'Duke' to see what would happen, but then I thought that a lack of a sense of humor would defeat the sale. 

Some want to place all  audiophiles in same bag, for them it means always listening analytically, obsessing with equipment. This may be true for some audiophiles and that's fine with me, no skin off my back. Not all audiophiles like this, obvious by so many threads over many years in this forum. The definition given above is the actual meaning, so don't let others define you. 

@newbee ”sense of humour”

We English love a sense of ironic humour. Often more when it’s understated.

I have a question on the ironic side…..

If you paid upfront a 15% import tariff, will it be a more forward sound and 15% better?

I dont need to listen analytically now...( i needed it when i tuned my room ) 

I know what is the balance between all acoustics factors now...

If i perceive an unbalanced factor i correct it ... ( not by a costly upgrade by the way )

 I am an audiophile interested by acoustics concepts and experience...

Since my system/room is minimally satisfying i listen music... ( my concept of minimal  acoustic satisfaction threshold) 

If anything catch my attention as unbalanced  i correct it... ( i recently bought filters and buffer for my linear power supply  at very low cost because i wanted to decrease the noise floor level and increase the reserve power of my tube pre-amp equalizer Douk T8 pro ) 

I use equalization for my headphones and speakers... My room and my modified speakers and headphone being already optimized...

Each day i enjoy music with no critical frustration ,,,

If there is a problem, i correct it ...I dont need critical mode of attention...

I need knowledge ...