I also agree with a lot of what you've said. BUT, I will never excuse myself from this "hobby" because of a love for, and need for music and film in my life. I listen to music, not my rig. I find other opinions and spending patterns amusing - At audioholics we're just some of the few who get it.
Also, tube technology is not obsolete. Until one has heard a nice tube rig with time coherent speakers, listeners are just too inexperienced to say otherwise. This makes me think that some readers here have never heard a REALLY great system - and I don't mean megabuck gear. If you want obsolete, check out most of the goofy bells and whistles on the receivers that are being sold today.
Audiosouse, don't throw in the towel, you know enough to know how to beat this system. Just keep an open mind (use measurements AND your ears) and soon you'll have a rig that sounds better than anything, at any price. Yes, a lot, no, most high-end equipment is grossly overpriced and technologically standing still, but not all. So give some of the high end freaks some slack. There are some designers out there who really are passionate about sound and working hard to achieve great results. Soon, you'll be the happy recipient.