One thing that will help preserve great audio equipment is the home theater. Young people really appreciate a good home theater, and I think more homes in the future may have them. People don't go out to the movies like they used to. Nothing but a home theater allows a family to enjoy the same movie together with great sound and picture.The gramophone used to be state of the art in audio reproduction in 1880s. The CD player became the latest tech in the 1980s, one hundred years later.
The companies that made gramophones have not exist for a long time and the companies that make CD players will also cease to exist at some stage.
Not sure how long the high end audio industry can sustain if there is not a sufficiently large population of people in their 20s-30s who do not walk around but actually sit down when listening to music. The younger people who do sit down listening to music seriously these days do not buy Martin Logan electrostatics speakers although some of them may buy a paid of HiFiMan electrostatic headphones. It seems that Kevin is addressing a market segment of golden oldies like me who are now living their teenage dreams!
It could be in the future people use VR and a good set of headphones to simulate a home theater. I have a really cool program on my PC that simulates in VR a movie theater. The screen is giant, like a real movie theater and there are at least 50 seats or more for people to sit. You can put on a movie and others join you in the audience. You are able to see the people and talk to them. Maybe that will be a big thing, especially for those that don't have the space and $$ for a proper home theater. It is impressive.
I do think home theaters will help the audiophile business remain strong enough to survive.