Same as a high end watch I think. One doesn’t by a JLC, Rolex, or AP because they keep better time than a $10 Casio.
I do own a McIntosh amp that performs decent. I also have several Hypex and purifi amps in my HT. I like the McIntosh in my 2-channel system as it looks very nice and sounds great. In addition, I can sell it after say 10 years and recoup my money back (my late MC275 was an example).
I don't quite agree with the analogy though.
For JLC, unless you have a special edition piece, the resale value isn't all that great. Similarly for AP. Both will lose a big chunk of change even though the so called percentage is "not high". Even at a loss of only 10%, off $10K~30K, that is $1K-3K. I can write off a $100/- Casio and still be better much off in the end. Rolex keeps their high prices simply because they raise they retail prices annually and artificially create a shortage by limiting supply of their most desirable models to the retail outlets.
Similarly for high end audio stuff. You may lose 20 - 30% off a well maintained Macintosh or Accuphase, but that amount of money is still way more than writing off say a Purifi amp completely in that same time frame, which may get back 30~40% of its original value, which we have yet to see as they are not that "old" in the market.
As for aesthetic enjoyment , yes that I can agree. Inherently, everyone has a right to decide what they consider to be objects of beauty and desire that they enjoy.