Hey now, my Electrocompianet AW100 is "schweeterer".
Although some people would be okay basing it on cost, I've heard very expensive gear that I didn't think really qualified. Most things that would qualify will tend to be fairly expensive because it not only costs money to do it right, the companies that tend to do it are small and don't make a lot of product in comparison to the big guys who aren't making products for people more interested in good sound over watts and features. What constitutes a "bargain" today is often fatally flawed to gain larger market acceptance.
As brick and mortar stores have evaporated, a major conduit for passing on knowledge through experience has more and more limited effect on the new generation of potential audiophiles. This is further complicated by the erosion of critical thinking skills in the real world sense. Lunatics like us are easy to "other" when your reference point is some random guy on the internet is telling you that the "holy grail" is some 70s vintage receiver, or that the 120 watt $300 receiver they just bought is far superior and more powerful than your Model 1s.
"Tribalism", as mentioned earlier, is pervasive. Those most locked into it are the ones with the absolute least knowledge and experience. You can't have a high end experience without listening to a properly set up system. Without that, there is no desire to move out of the box they are in. No motivation to move forward.
So here we are. Play some music for people. Show those who show interest how to put a system together and set it up. It still amazes me how many people just buy stuff and expect it to sound better.
That said, this isn't a bad idea for a forum.
... Maybe some the Vintage ARC gear could be considered as an exception ? 
