Encouraging people to consider a traditional 2 channel stereo system.

My suggestion is, don't waste your time trying to bring someone into the fold. It's likely to be less than fruitful. There is nothing wrong with inviting people to listen to your system. Maybe that is enough to get them started on the path, but doubtful. I wouldn't even bother to give unused equipment to someone. Chances are they will take it if offered, but they probably won't appreciate it. If they are really interested then if you offer to sell it at "deal" type prices then they would likely buy it. 
 

It's not just audio. This would apply to almost anything. I used to work part time in a scuba dive store and would see couples and friends come in together to learn to dive. Very rarely were they equally enthusiastic about it. Not saying that they didn't want to do it, but you could almost always pick out who was driving the adventure and who was along for the ride. Sometimes they would stick it out past certification and make it to a year or two. Very rarely would it last, for both of them, longer than that. 
 

My wife has recently gotten into mountaineering and has tried to get me into it too. I have the good sense not to go down that road, for multiple reasons. I support her fully in her endeavors, but no thank you. I fully understand her desire to share her new found passion with someone, but it is not going to be me, and it doesn't seem to be any of her friends either. 
 

I too would love someone to share my love of music with, but I know for it to be real it needs to be organic. 
 

I too, like another poster, believe that this is a niche hobby. Lots of people play music, but very few will actually sit and listen to music without multitasking. Just listen to music. Music for most is something in the background; something extra, but not the primary focus. That's why most aren't willing to spend money on the hobby beyond what's needed for background music or what's needed to make it more convenient in some way. There is just no value in it for them. 
 

Sorry if all that sounds harsh, but that's what I believe. 

@mcraghead 

I agree. Show don't tell.

Recently one of my kids brought friends over. The conversation drifted to music, specifically metal. One thing leads to another, I'm blasting sludge metal for them at ungodly SPLs. From the moment the first notes shook the room I could see the light bulbs going on in their heads. My hope is that a seed was planted.

My son is building a big new home. I offered a really nice stereo system & he turned me down. Ear Buds & phones I guess. Sheesh...

I'm OK with younger people or anyone else for that matter not getting involved with this hobby to that extent. Everyone has different priorities. If it's not in your blood, it's not in your living room. Just be happy you belong to an elite group of individuals that have a passion for good sound.

I think even if we look among our own demographic, there is only a small fraction who are bitten by the bug. Most are satisfied with a modest set up (the standards for that have changed too, and some would argue for the better), without delving deeply into the hobby.

I can think of a few people over the years who did catch the fever. Did I plant the seed? Doubtful. Over the years I have had a number of people listen to different systems set up in my homes, but I suspect that those that did get "into" hi-fi already had a predisposition to getting involved in the pursuit of sound. I certainly know of people with far more resources than me who could easily buy state of the art systems, but don't. It just isn't as important a part of their lives. That isn't to say they don't listen to music or enjoy it. 

We are hobbyists who pursue an interest in something that, for many people, is a far more pedestrian pursuit- like the hot rod example someone gave above---how many people drive automobiles but don't get into modifying, tuning, taking advanced driver instruction, go to the track, etc. 

The "high-end" press has been lamenting the dwindling number of enthusiasts for decades (and it's been a long time since I gave up reading the audio magazines). 

I had posed a similar question on a hi-end forum a few years ago-- whether we were the "last generation" to have come to adulthood with the aspiration to build a serious hi-fi system. I did get some pushback, in the sense that some younger people were not into their peak earning years yet, that the high-end headphone crowd was just as serious, etc. All true, but in some ways, like all analog production, we are a niche of a niche. In fact, if I were starting out today, I'd seriously wonder whether I'd even be involved in using LPs as a playing medium at this point. I'm not despairing of change--it's a normal process of life. In fact, it seems like more change has occurred in the last decade or so than at any time in my 7 decades on the planet. 

Here's to enjoying what you have or want. 

Bill