I suspect the majority of audiophiles put together a system and run it until it breaks or some major life change intervenes. The people who post on sites like these with their constant equipment changing are probably in the minority of audiophiles. For instance, if you put together a good system in 1990, it still sounds great. Are there better systems now available, yes, but there were better systems available back in 1990. Some people think of the equipment side as a journey, while other stay at home.
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.