I think a lot of that has to do with most people's insecurity about tone.

Many people don't trust their ears (or don't have any) and will pay a lot of money thinking they'll get the best tone. They cannot judge tone by ear, so they judge it by price. They'll buy the most expensive amp, so they can be sure it's good.

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From time to time I send Dwight faxes. From himself. From the future.