In article ,
Steven Sullivan wrote:

I wonder if there's any other technically-oriented hobby where there's
such a strong strain of hostility towards objective verification of
truth-claims about the performance of the gear involved?

Hot rodding?

Listening to music isn't "technically-oriented." High end is more like
golfing and fishing in that the gear can be an end to itself but is also
marketed with promises of improved "performance."

Stephen