I agree with most of what folks have put forth. Like many have expressed, including Roy, I also question the viability of high-end audio companies.
Of this list of highly-respected North American manufacturers, how many would survive were the one person in charge cease to serve in that role (retire, become incapacitated or worse) tomorrow - AtmaSphere, Audio by Van Alstine, Avalon, Ayre, Basis, BAT, Blue Circle, Canary, Coincident, Deja Vu, JPS, Lamm, Magico, Mapleshade, Merlin, Nordost, Purist Audio Designs, Quicksilver, Rockport, Rogue, Sanders Sound, Silverline, Sonist, Soundsmith, Synergistic Research, Totem, Tyler Audio, VAC, Vandersteen, VPI, Walker, YG Acoustic, and Zu.
Of this list of highly-respected North American manufacturers, how many would survive were the one person in charge cease to serve in that role (retire, become incapacitated or worse) tomorrow - AtmaSphere, Audio by Van Alstine, Avalon, Ayre, Basis, BAT, Blue Circle, Canary, Coincident, Deja Vu, JPS, Lamm, Magico, Mapleshade, Merlin, Nordost, Purist Audio Designs, Quicksilver, Rockport, Rogue, Sanders Sound, Silverline, Sonist, Soundsmith, Synergistic Research, Totem, Tyler Audio, VAC, Vandersteen, VPI, Walker, YG Acoustic, and Zu.