in the unlikely instance sos is still watching...its not good manners to insult the forum, and then bugger off, because you dont' like what they say...
I will attempt to reply to a few points...
first of all, people are trained to criticise, ever since the days of aristotle, destrying an argument was meant to leave all that was left to be the good stuff....this unfortunate attitude is still prevalent...you see it everywhere...legal system, newspapers, everywhere...people can offer critiques, but few solutions...I am equally guilty, be a nicer world to focus on soving problems rather than blasting them in flames...
what do you want to see us do..build all are own equipment like yourself...?
"are, by and large, sold below-standard, over-priced products, "
partly right, basic cd players still generally cost a lot more than budget dvds, , which is a cd player+ all that audio decoding stuff, too...must be pricier...
partly the companies are out of ideas, little left to do, over priced, yes, when some pro-audio 250 watt amps cost 250 quid, and you pay that for a fifty watter...brand snobbery partly...partly the maker robbing people...
"feel somewhat troubled to say that I'm an audiophile today. 'high-end' and 'state-of-the-art' "
the average guy in the street would be aghast at what some people spend for a bit of music to listen to...crikey I have heard computer speakers called 'monitor speakers' as they sit by a monitor..a monitor speaker is either a high quality atc type accurate, or something on stage to hear yourself...eh hippy?
Terms get cannibalised by others trying to get in on the act...whoa..if these monitors cost £100 from richer sounds, that's great, monitors used to cost 1000s...
"That everything is a-okay, or that something isn't right"
that depends on your point of view and what you want to see...
"todays equipment would simply CREAM equipment from 20, 30, even 40 years ago, which blatantly isn't true"
quite correct, its all bollux to pander to the sun reading mentality, just to make entertaining reading to those who know no better...people here know that though...its the mob on the streets, things haven't changed since gladiator...england is the mob...
"I think most people are in denial "
the state of thinking of a person is a ver complex mixture of upbriging, inherent genetics, stuff they are exposed to , experiences, god knows what....most people don't care...they think they are free thinking, I am influenced subliminally by adverts...they onlly have this stuff in the shops, see an ad, and buy their idea of what they like , maybe based on a crap biased review, word of mouth, salemans crap, we as consumers are limited by what is out there, how easy it is to get, the prority it is...hi end audio is not a prority for most people, its just not an issue...
"If that information is controlled and/or distorted (as it most definitely is in hifi) then that means people actively have to seek out the info they need to make an informed choice, "
it is in lots of other things...people are slowly becoming aware, some anyway, most haven' the time or inclination to research...it has been this way for a LONG time...
"exploitation takes place, exploitation of something I assume we all love" that's the state of the planet, and its not going to change..unfortunate, but true..if you can't beat em, join em...
"they need to spend MORE money as a solution"
true, you CAN get what you pay for, after all, if someone is an 'expert', why not take their word...trouble is, the engineers design to specs. and we are this specs. and flashing lights impressed culture....and when you have paid the most...it MUST be the best...denial, denial?
"80s and 90s really brought around VERY significant changes in ownership " the thatcher years and advent of the yuppie where things bring status, and having a good looking hifi and other bits for the looks means you have kudos...stupid monkey mentality...belongs back in the jungle...its old instincts...but yes, companies became more targeted with greater insight of marketing and psychological strategies...
"some say it is on it's last legs" suppose it is, av has stole the show, along with computers, downloading, ....we need a revolution, maybe its a good thing....
we are a tiny minority, the mags would go bust if it wasn't for them...maybe not a bad thing...
"The cream DOES NOT rise to the top" sometimes does, sometimes doesn't...difficult in this controlled market place, but you can understand punters...why buy some back street guy when you can get something with the backup of naim or similar with a pedigree..
".spending more and more and getting only a tiny increase" true, maybe the 'quality' is so good now, its almost as good as it will ever be...also, maybe partly it costs so much to get a small betterment, then again, yes, the old stuff was good...you are trying to do it smaller, more energy efficient, more reliable, lighter, sexier looking,
"Most people really do seem to WANT to continue this cycle of constant expenditure"..gets like a drug...we do get the urge to better ourselves..partly for getting bored, as a result of next years better looking thing, partly for natural betterment, and it has a strage compulsive effect...
I will finish there, as I am not sure the point of writing more...if you are watching, set down exactly what you want to see here and go and do it....not all think the same way, and we are a minority, in the end, bills do have to be paid, sad but true...