I think we agree on more than just that.
I agree that when one buys Bose, they are buying into much more than just speakers; they are also buying into the advertising, brand image, customer support, hype, etc. (Much like Apple!). I also agree that one must always go into any major purchase having done some research, even if minor. However, I wouldn't classify anyone buying Bose as buying blindly. Going off simple reviews and advertisements that are nearly unavoidable, I think most people know for a fact that Bose will sound pretty darn good (not the best, and question of value aside). Even those that attack it seem to imply that Bose sounds good (they attack it for value mostly: either the same quality can be had for less, or better quality can be had for the same cost). Further, any company that has so many stores in malls, the type of advertising they afford, and the length of time they have been doing it, together implies the brand is reputable. (Again, much like Apple!) This isn't buying blindly.
I had roommates in college that fell for the gray van scam.
That was buying blindly. They paid $300 for an all-in-one home theater system, that had an "MSRP" of $5000, from two guys in the back of a van claiming to be installers who had an extra by mistake. They had no idea what the brand was (it was a fake brand), they had no idea what it sounded like (no demo), and it wasn't in a reputable retailer (van on street). It sounded awful; I still find it surprising that even the worst 5.1 system can sound worse than built-in tv speakers, but it did.
My point is it seems like we're rehashing the never-ending Macs vs. PC argument, but in a different space. Easy-to-use and all-in-one at a premium versus customization and higher-quality components at a better value. The fight will go on!
I do appreciate this thread and Irishman's write-ups. Very informative and certainly makes buying something non-Bose easier.
