Is SACD a dead format?

I read an article the other day that Sony had pretty much abandoned the ship. It just never took off and I couldn't see it ever being more than a niche product for audiophiles (which account for how much of the market and what do the rest care?)
At any rate, I do hear a difference with SACD, especially in the highs and with more palpable voices. Cymbals actually take on a real shimmer. Of course, there are some crappy ones too.
I buy on line. Maybe my local Best Buy will follow Sean's but right now---not much(nor with DVD-A.) I would think it depends on the area. Unfortunately, this area is not known for audiophiles. I would say you could count all of the true blue ones on 2 hands! This is more of a boom - boom in the car and boom box region. Best Buy sells their systems by the truck load and most think they have reached the pinnacle of sound (including my brother, who, after listening to my system, says it is crazy to invest that much money even if the sound is much better. His Sony system is GOOD enough and he only paid $400 for the complete thing!) Of course, I informed him that it's crazy to drive a Lexus when a Camry will suffice!
I do believe SACD has/had some real possibilities. To bad we'll probably never see it.

I don't think these formats wars really have anything to do with sound. If you look at the general buying public, do they care about a hi-rez format? No, they care about convinence. When the 8-track came out, it was convinence. Then the cassette tape-convinence over reel to reel and records.
Now look at CD (the perfect sound forever) and it was the convinence of the format that drove it to what it is. (We could also say the same about VHS to DVD.)
How many people in this country participate in this little hobby of audio? How many people country wide have equipment that will let them know the difference?
When SCAD came out, it did not offer any convinence over what was already available. Look at this post at the number of people who say they can't hear a difference (which is mind boggling to me personally.)
This relegates SACD to a niche product for us anal rententive audiophiles. Will it continue to die, probably if manufacturers are basing its success on sales. Maybe it will go as the record, there will be limited production.
I don't think DVD-A will be any more successful for the same reasons. How much is this smallest segment of the population (audiophiles) worth to big business?
I think we should be worried if 2-ch will survive myself!

Tbg, I totally agree with your video and computer driven assesment, especially video(the more direct effect on audio at this time.) Here again, everyone wants that convinence of an all-in-one system.
I have talked to local dealers and without the video side and all that, they would be dead as a business.
You know, 2-ch was really developed in small garages and small niche businesses. It was about the product then. Maybe as this segment retreats, we can go back to the true designers who are in it for the sound and get away from this integration crap. It is depressing to me. I'm old school with those old school values. I guess I'm just sentimental to those great years of audio.