Correct - many times we can be influenced or seduced by the rhetoric and we loose sight of the point - great sound - so listen first - talk later 
james
I agree with James that in terms of coming to one's own opinion about gear, it is necessary to listen first, then talk. But as most people commenting on this topic understand, the issue here is under what circumstances it is possible to demo before
buying.
Amblin raises a terrific point in question. Based on reviews, and the very positive reception of the HD800s by a distant pen pal, I bought a pair sight unseen for two reasons. One there were none in town to demo. Two, the dealer was taking orders at a gouging level price. I bought online at a lower price and received them by delivery a day later. Great, but as Amblin reports, as good as the HD800s are, it wasn't until I bought LCD2s (sight unseen, drawn by reviews, bought online) that I found how cold and clinical they sound. So what to do? I want to keep the HD800s as reference cans, but would like to make them sound better. A respected reviewer with whom I have communicated, has made some suggestions that will require an additional, modest purchase, sight unseen. It is another gamble, I confess, but so was buying the LCD2s.
I prefer demos, probably because it makes sense, and I feel I've lost something in not having them available. On the other hand, the good news, at least for me, is that I have to say, on balance, in terms of actual experience with buying blind versus buying with demos, I have had just about equal success in terms of satisfaction buying either way. I confess, therefore, that the death of demos is, above all, a lament for a passing age, like so much else in our fast moving times.
For consumers (as opposed to James's use of demos), I believe the demo is all but dead. and the moral of the story may be, it isn't the end of the world, so get used to it.
