Justifying sound systems

This is making a big assumption, one which I feel is wrong.  What sounds good to you may sound like crap to me and vice versa, so there is no real universal point for this kind of comparison.  Besides, a good sounding system is about more than just the cost of the components, it is about the quality and skill of the install as well.

DYohn's reply begs two further questions on this topic.  He stated that a good quality sound system is not only based on the cost of the components but on the quality and skill of the install. 

First, does the cost of the system really make any difference at all?  I've been lamenting the cost of certain head units recommended by many, many people on this site.  If I choose to go strictly with retail from my local shop, I will pay upwards of twice what I could pay on-line.  I will, of course, not be privy to the manufacturer's warranty nor will I be properly supporting my local dealer who has graciously supported me.  Morally, ethically, financially (for the local shop owner) this may seem horrid, but - bottom line - money is money.  Will I feel better about myself driving down the road listening to my music knowing that I have paid everyone the most I could have paid, thereby putting food on their tables?  Or will I feel better driving down the road with the EXACT same set-up knowing that I paid pennies on the dollar and my wallet is thicker for it?  I don't know. 

Second, does the aesthetic of the install mean better quality?  Does it truly matter whether the cable in a car is zip-tied every six inches?  If my trunk - which never gets used for anything other than housing my amps and DSP - looks like a bowl of blue spaghetti, is my system "quality" compromised?  I personally would prefer a clean, tight install with no visible wiring regardless that noone will ever be looking.  But I'm not competing, so it's all about the sound, not the vision.  What real difference is there between the guy that does it himself and leaves wires untied but safe and the guy that has it professionally installed and perfectly trimmed and tied?  I'm talking sound-quality here, not aesthetic value...

My two cents is that supporting the local dealer is the best thing I can do and demanding that the install be top quality (aesthetically, as well) is part of that support.  By pressuring him to do the best work possible and paying him well for the work, I am helping ensure that he will be there in the future when I will need him (and, guaranteed, I will at some point). 

I ride in my vehicle virtually everyday, sometimes hours at a time.  People will spend  $3000 on say a hot tub, motorcycle, snowmobile, or whatever and use them a few times a week if they're lucky.  So I figure why not put money into something that will get the most use and enjoyment.  I can always find an answer for someone who questions why I would put so much money into car audio because they're usally wasting money on something they use even less.

Never forget that everyone is different.  No two of us hear the same, and what's expensive to one person is another guy's pocket change.  I say the key is to build a system that you are happy with and to h*ll with what anyone else thinks about it.

Dave (haemphyst) thank you for clarifying my position.  I couldn't have said it better.