I am a cognitive psychologist and worked most of my professional career conducting research to measure consumers'/users' perceptions of products. Designers and engineers are fascinated with novel product design features because they attract attention and differentiate their products from others. I had to constantly caution them to avoid seeking novelty alone because "different" is not necessarily "better". When the novelty rush wears off (and it always does) what remains might be revealed to be less pleasing.
Are audiophile products designed to initially impress then fatigue to make you upgrade?
If not why are many hardly using the systems they assembled, why are so many upgrading fairly new gear that’s fully working? Seems to me many are designed to impress reviewers, show-goers, short-term listeners, and on the sales floor but once in a home system, in the long run, they fatigue users fail to engage and make you feel something is missing so back you go with piles of cash.