Is ASR for real, or is it only for those sub $1k or even sub $2K?

I certainly don't agree with Amir's point of view. Measurements are useful-designers use them-but are only part of the equation in my experience. I've also seen that lots of the ASR followers are snarky, or worse. Ridiculous. But, truth be told, you get an awful lot of that here over matters having nothing to do with Amir. Look at the insults hurled at people who buy or sell expensive equipment, or believe in the power of cables, or don't. Keyboard courage, I guess. Sure doesn't make the person launching those attacks look any smarter. The opposite is true.

I think Amir is wrong, but also think he's a smart guy. If we could have reasonable exchanges of differing views, everybody might learn something, but that seems to be very hard to do.

I always love when anyone says I like this better than that, their response is well you didn’t do a double blind test. Did they ever double blind test their own equipment? Or their perfect measuring against a good tube amp? No and they’d be afraid to. 
Amir gets attacked here because they attack everyone there. Pseudoscientists over there. They will quote some study from 1940 as gospel. 
‘Do measurements have meaning? Of course. Helps matching components for sure and may give a bit of insight into the potential sound but is hardly the end all be all. They’re very close minded individuals. 
ASR is a headless panther!

Amir based on his name, he may be of middle eastern descended.  In that culture, people tend to be condescending when disagreed.

That is a remarkably ignorant comment that also happens to be false.

OP:  If you've never deleted a post, you might want to start now.