I did my first AK fest when I was 37. Not that much older than you. And I was one of the youngest guys there. And I really don't buy that cost is such a huge barrier to attendance at the Fest.
There must be as many definitions of "disposable income" as there are people. There must also be as many ways of traveling as there are people... so I won't get into this...
... But from my own limited point of view, doing the trip to Detroit in a car with my family while sleeping in motels would be costly... not counting all that time waisted along the way as my little girl will often want to stretch her legs and spend herself or that trip would be a nightmare for her (and us by ricochet). Not sure long driving hours would suit her. My girlfriend will obviously point out that our time and money would be better spent doing some cool family activities around my city. And I'll have to agree with her on this.
... but that doesn't prevent me from being interested into audio and buying or upgrading units and components.
Not to say, there's a big difference between 32 yo. and 37 yo. As at my age, most are still struggling to settle their income while hoping all will be better in a few years !
I have been buying and selling vintage gear for almost 20 years now. Most of the guys I bought and sold from were my age, or more likely, older than me.
It makes sense since this age group has more disposable income. But still, that doesn't mean younger ones aren't interested ! Maybe they are less fortunate ! Maybe they are looking at the most "badass" units... I would've !
Realistically, what would make this combo worth $7000 or even $4000? There is certainly better gear out in the market if all you want is sound. Better quality and better reliability. So what are you really buying here? Nostalgia and rarity. Once the nostalgia goes away, the rarity won't matter as much.
Nothing will make that combo worth, today, $7000! That's because of crazy exceptions like this that, in administration, when you want to know an average number of something, you don't add the upper and lower extremes in your calculation.
And as 62caddy already pointed out (see post #28)... Relative scarcity is always increasing. The population is always increasing while the quantity of good quality collectible is fixed or decreasing. There's a good chance vintage
TOTL will appreciate in the long term while the rest will fall into oblivion.
I wen't to a lot of meetings here of an antique phonograph society about 20 years back. The members were, shockingly enough, guys who were around when that year was cool. The two youngest members were me and Jeff Healey. Yes, that Jeff Healey. The equipment and 78's, 80's, cylinders, etc. was fetching good dollars then. Now, those same guys are saying that units that were very popular, are sitting for ages with no interest. They can't give away their records away.
Isn't cylinders and 78's antiquated technology ? I mean, analog sound from TOTL vintage units is comparable to modern units and new music is still made for them. I couldn't get much use from a cylinder or a 78... only a museum would...
When will emerge a new revolutionizing technology that'll blow our senses and antiquate the audio technology we're currently using... it's a safe bet to say the market for the antiquated technology will fall.
Same with stamp collections. Sure, there are still stamps that are worth money. But I know a number of elderly friends of my dad who built huge collections, and now their kids can't get anything for them. Pretty sad, but like anything else, all hobbies are cyclical.
And I bet those stamps that still fetch good money are those rare highly sought ones. All that is too common probably isn't worth much anymore.