I regularly use solid state amps that are over 30 years old. I just sent one in for service because of an oscillating distortion and flashing power light in one channel. No damage whatsoever to the speaker and no flames shooting out of the amp.

My electrostats are very revealing of poor recordings (e.g. most of Led Zep and the Stones). My solution was to add a pair of Klipsch Heresy IIIs.

A lot of audiophiles want the fewest components possible in the signal path. Improper use of EQ can add distortion to signal. As a result, a lot of people rely on passive approaches to removing room modes or other sources of undesirable artifacts through speaker placement, wall treatments, traps, reflectors, etc., including the shape and dimensions of the room.

Others have hinted at this, but many audiophiles suffer from “audiophilia nervosa”, the idea that there’s something wrong with their system that could be made better by upgrading components, leading to “gear acquisition syndrome”.

Thus you have companies that market directly to that fear, selling expensive things like power line conditioners, power cords, interconnects, speaker cables, equipment isolators, devices to keep your speaker cables off the floor, etc. Or by claiming that their equipment is superlative in order to justify the high expense.

You might have a look at r/budgetaudiophile to get another perspective.

Yeah, I hear you. Nearly every part in those pieces are over 30 years old. Nothing lasts forever. They had a good run!

ETA: good point on dealer cost. It’s a good deal.

Yeah, I just learned that today.