here is another view: I have x dollars and I want to buy the best for that x.
At any given point I want to make the most out of that x. If it’s feet for my turntables, or cables or new speakers, whatever improves the sound the most, however I identify the weakest link is what matters. Does that x dollars make me consumer/mid-fi/hi-fi or my approach to find the key to improving the sound makes me whatever category?
To be honest, if I had a lot more money, I would have learned a lot less and probably would have had less fun as well.