I contracted this 'Autiophile Disease' in my early college years (late 80s) and have followed the industry since. However, I have to say that I have never been as disgusted with pricing (all levels of gear) as I am today. The audio industry is capitalizing on this excellent economy, as any good business would, but when the merry-go-round stops, I'm not sure what's going to be left.
This current economy is being propped up and is not as rosy as perceived. Jobs are becoming scarce, inflation is rising, and housing is all over the place. I hope the audio industry is ahead of this curve because when people can't pay their mortgage, they are not buying gear. The wealthy will have the resources, but even they economize during downturns. As for the majority of the market, it might be rough sailing if we enter a recession.