gryph
I believe you are on to something there about hobbies. Just about every hobby I can think of has a beginning purchase threshold to get started. Then there are the initial improvements. Then comes having a spare or "another one". Then comes specialization. Then comes "just because I can and you can't".
I knew a lady for years before I found out her hobby : she threw darts competitively. As in a professional tournament circuit for dart board folks. She traveled all over the country and even internationally to throw darts. And of course, you can't just use any darts like you'd get at Walmart. Nope. Big bucks were involved even for something I didn't even know was "a thing".
Its one of the most interesting things about hobbies: finding out how involved people get and how they justify the time and expense. Golf is a great example. Forget how much it costs (it can cost as much as any hobby) look at how much time it takes. Depending on your job, your family size, age of your kids, the WAF factor, carving out 3 to 4 hours for 18 is no small thing. Yet, golfers manage it and the expense as well.
Its one of the few concessions to growing older: I've had to cut back on the number of hobbies. I just don't have the time or the financial wherewithal to really get out and enjoy all the things I would like. So, I've cut it back to a shorter list and I get to spend more guilt free time with those I still pursue. Like music and audio.
Great points, pretty much how most of my hobbies go and how they always seem to progress.
Fast cars, off road trucks, motorcycles, ATV's, etc....all ate up lots of time and money. There also the legalities and dangers involved with certain activities that have made some of it less attractive as I've gotten older.
And while I love archery as a discipline and fun relaxing activity that gets me outside a whole bunch, collecting things like guns has lost it's appeal as I just don't care about having a bunch of stuff sitting in safes that doesn't actually get used.
At least with the audio/video gear I can always use it and enjoy the output even if and when my tastes in music might change.
And as far as a hobby goes, if you have the disposable income and enjoy switching up AV gear all the time, well more power to you.
