Can we categorize exotic cables as luxury rather than necessity?

[okiemax]

I would categorize it as stupidity, at least the purchase of them. The sale of them on the other hand is a stroke of genius as it exploits the human nature of those with much more money than their knowledge warrants them to be responsible for handling. If a professional audio engineer were to purchase these cable for a client using the client's money, he might lose his job. His boss would tell him that we don't treat our customer's money recklessly. On the other hand, there is no one to stop the hobbyist or consumer from spending his money on things that don't work any better than much cheaper items. Among those who buy multi thousand dollar appliances for their kitchens, an Italian made range hood costing $6000 was quite the rage. However, it works no better than my $200 GE. A recent Consumer's Reports (March 2004) published tests showing that multi thousand dollar stainless steel stoves built to withstand 100 years of abuse in a commercial kitchen not only didn't cook any better than the best consumer models selling for $1000 or less, in most cases, they didn't perform nearly as well and some brands weren't very reliable. But if you want your kitchen to gleam with stainless steel like the back room of a well scrubbed diner or you want fat fancy looking wires to look at behind your stereo system, go right ahead. There are plenty of people out there just too eager to take your money. Me, I save my exotic cable money for other things, like cruises.

Only a dummy would spend $2,000 on a cruise instead of using the money to buy an exotic cable. All kinds of terrible things can happen on a cruise ship. I recall shocking headlines like "HUNDREDS SICK AFTER CRUISE" and "SHARK DEVOURS VACATIONER" and "YOU CAN GET STD's ON A BOAT" and "FUN IN SUN CAUSES CANCER." So what do you have to show for your foolishness after you get home? Nothing, except possibly a hangover. But your exotic cable would still be worth something. After having fun with it, you could sell it and buy another maybe even more exotic cable. There is no end to the fun you can have. And it's CLEAN, SAFE FUN!