Dear all,
This is a fascinating discussion, which I have followed with interest. I have a close friend who owns two branches of a well known hi fi chain. He and his colleagues work hard, he puts in long hours and although he makes a solid living, he is not rich. One aspect we might have forgotten is that in order to invest in, and develop, the business he has needed a loan from the bank, and they charge him interest, so that must be added to his costs. He needs to make what might look like a fairly big mark up on the items he sells to cover all his overheads including these interest payments. Furthermore, he takes a risk with his money, as anytime his business may collapse no matter how hard he works, so he needs a risk premium too. I don't feel sorry for him, but I don't envy him either.
As for the true value of hi-fi, they say that a cynic is someone who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing......