While what you say regarding quality is true, you can get quality
without buying audiophile-brand speakers. I think that was Bill
Kearney's point, not that bargain-basement "scratchy and tinny"
speakers are all you need.

For example, I have been pleased with TruAudio in-wall/ceiling
speakers. I've compared them to Polk and Niles and they sound every bit
as good. Above a certain quality level, speaker placement becomes more
of an issue than the subtle nuances of frequency-response differences.
And the ceiling is simply not a place where you can expect to get
audiophile sound.