But I think Broskie was very specifically addressing an audience of people who are trying to get the best music they can from equipment; and he calls them audiophiles. And he wonders at the motivation of someone to sink 30k$ into stuff that plays music when he doesn't own any or appreciate it when he does. It's a sense of puzzled confusion.

If that is the case; I would say that in the participation of the hobby; music should by definition take center stage. How will you know whats good without knowing the music? That thinking leads to where you get statements like only ABX testing can tell if something sounds good or not. His thesis reminds me of the guy who plays golf but only likes to drive and can't putt worth a damn. Yet he owns a set of custom Pings because he likes the feel. Does that guy really know the game?