Thanks for the well-informed post.
When I got into this hobby, a member here took me in. They taught me, via email and zoom, about reflection times, first and distal reflection points, room modes, and all the rest. I measured extensively, moved furniture, and at one point I even had a subwoofer 3 feet in the air to measure vertical modal behavior. He taught me to figure out the bass frequencies first. Then I dealt with the rest – even mapping different reflection times on my ceiling and side walls to try to troubleshoot how to place treatment, and what kind.
Now, when I try gear changes, I know that the larger factors have been largely contained. This makes the changes "real."
I have no problem with people throwing money at equipment. What bothers me is their assertion that these actions are "justified" in any kind of a scientific sense. They're not justified. They're not disallowed – again, free country. But to assert they're justified is to tarnish the scientific bases for the hobby.
@dantaudio Thanks!
@lhasaguy Good process. I'd even argue that room measurements might come before speaker acquisition.