Couldn't agree more.
I mean, I've been so lucky in this hobby, and through reviewing and my evolution in the hobby, I've been able to go from bargain basement gear up to some of the finest stuff available, some for free, some paid for.
But I'll never forget a time last year when I was lying in bed, physically ill and stressed to the max.
I don't use TOTL gear in bed since I can't use those earphones whilst lying on my side and am paranoid about breaking them or having the DAP slide off the bed and take a fall etc.
But I had my old DX120 and a pair of £9 imitation Apple EarPods (wired).
I stuck on some beautiful relaxing music, and all my cares, physical pain and so forth just receded into the background.
It was a moment of intense beauty, tranquility and bliss; it really affected me, and I didn't need any great musical gear to achieve it
Having said that, like most of us here I'm sure, the point is that I love music, and being able to have those moments where I'm listening to long-familiar songs and suddenly notice there's a piano playing quietly in the background, or the musicians hand brushing against the guitar body etc, never loses its magic for me.
Not to mention just taking songs I already love and making them sound even better
We often talk about the slippery slope and whatnot, but honestly I'm so glad and so grateful that I discovered this hobby