In the middle of a pandemic, Stereophile reviews ~ $30K equipment

With some reviews of high-end equipment, I feel that they're talking to someone else and I'm just in the room.  I remember 20-30 years ago, it ALWAYS seemed that they were talking to someone else, with their reference to music selections that I'd never heard of, reviewing equipment that I was sure I would never see in my group of friends or anywhere else, for that matter.  Today, even with a limited budget for gear, I never would've dreamed that I'd spend so much for equipment as I have so far.