Well, I suppose it is the High End show, and the industry seems to think High End equates with expensive ... and high price stuff (luxury goods) are seen by Marketers as 'fashion/lifestyle statements'. Not exactly the philosophy of this forum
Overall, I found the show to be way better than anything I've ever attended in the UK (Harrogate, Chesterfield, Heathrow, Whittlebury, Scalford mostly), and well worth visiting. The bigger systems in the larger rooms gave a sense of scale not normally heard, but on the other hand, they were starting to approach PA proportions ... hardly practical in most homes. Justin is right though ... I was wandering close to the main doors in one of the big halls, when I heard something startlingly real, way better than normal. I followed my ears through the door, and there was the saxophone quartet playing in the foyer