Why are so many people spending so much money to build “perfect” streaming system?

I'm out of touch as well...

I have 95% of the physical media (LP's CD's) in hand that I wish to listen to.

If I find something that I like (but do not own) I simply purchase it on CD/LP.

I've experienced a multitude a "digital/computer" disasters since I first started using them in the 1980's - not so with my physical media.

As far as improving streaming goes (in my situation) I take 25 mg of Zinc daily and it seems to help.

This said, I do not care for most/all of the "new" music I sample from (basically) Youtube - so this does factor in on my take.

DeKay

Get a bluesound node. Easy to set up and use, good sound, and not at all expensive. Once you actually start to stream, you’ll get why all the fuss. From there you can decide if you want to spend big bucks to upgrade. And if not for some reason, you can sell it and make back most of your money. 
An analogy - taking up golf or tennis, you buy in cheap, go to a public course,  if you like it playing, you upgrade, if not, no big loss.

@walkenfan2013 it doesn’t have to be complicated. There are plenty of one box solutions out there that sound excellent. For a price of one CD per month you have enormous library of music at your fingertips.
Spend few hundred bucks and try a bluesound node streaming Qobuz

Are you living inside a vacuum tube? 

No offence. 

Dude, do you even stream?

For me to start a vinyl collection at 50 is out of the question. So streaming it is. I have a Node 2i into a Denafrips Ares II and those two combined sound very impressive in my opinion. Enjoy the music!

Because at long last digital, and in particular streaming can equal the very best sound quality available, which for decades has been vinyl. It can be done across the different quality levels of high fidelity. As an added bonus music is essentially free ($14 / month) for access to millions of albums.

I am retire and am ecstatic. I don’t have to constantly get up and can do research in my audio chair and just line up what to play next. I listen to music about three hours a day now.

There is nothing difficult about it, unless you want to make it difficult. If you already have a DAC… most contemporary CD players let you use them as a DAC. You buy a high quality streamer. You can plug it into a cheap wall wart wifi repeater so not to worry about running a cable. That is it. Download the app to your iPad or phone and go. Lots of folks here like to buy inexpensive streamers and play with their network to get better sound. But if you get a high quality streamer you don’t need to play with your network. I have a cheap Netgear router and my streamer sound as good as my high end vinyl setup.

An ifi Zen or Node (new or used) can sound amazing and open a huge catalog of music.  There are also some great DACs that don't cost a fortune.   It does not need to be expensive.  

There is little reason to spend up for streaming. There is no answer for the posted question  Get real.

I really know the hi res ability is there, but I really have not met anyone streaming 24/192 flac or any dsd. Well, if dsd had any relevant releases… Now MQA turned out to be a big fake. I also wonder if I would want all that content in one place. I haven’t even mentioned the subscriptions add up. Aurender iPad app-$20 Tidal-30 Quobuz $20? Not to mention roon. I am just a simple guy. Curious though. Is it that easy to operate and enjoy mostly good SQ?

Right now I'm in a state of audio bliss...listening to an Idagio stream of Mozart's opera "Abduction from the Seraglio." Three dimensional soundstage. Clean & undistorted. Lovely tone. For an eminently fair monthly fee. And yeah, it ain't even Hi-Def.

I get the exposure to discover new bands. I just think it is so complicated and overpriced to need all that new equipment. I would love to set up an aurender n 20 through a denafrips ladder dac and add digital to digital converter! Would prob cost near $8000. I am too old for getting into streaming now. And too poor…The sound quality of streamers depends on so many things. It gives me a headache. Fun to dream. Happy listening- Rocco

Are you asking about the high costs for many streamers or why people like streaming? 

where the new music is, unlimited access.

where the new music is, unlimited access.

where the new music is, unlimited access.

streaming can be high resolution.

streaming can be high resolution.

streaming can be high resolution.