Todd, yes, you can collapse the columns but it doesn't make the message pane any bigger. At least not in Firefox it doesn't. I have to side scroll most threads with pictures now so I know what Ian is going through.
I was mostly agreeing with you. At some point most of us abandon our pursuit of the ultimate high end in the name of just enjoying the music. But I'd agree with Jack as well, to say that the high end doesn't exist isn't right either.
Ever thought about taking your neighbor to small claims court for damage to your property? I'd probably present them with a cleaning bill and if they refused file the court docs.
On topic, I wouldn't buy a new production RS-1 after hearing both new and old at the recent NYC meet. Of course given how I feel about my woodied HF-1s I wouldn't bother with any of them.
I find your comments about the output stage of the Reference confusing. Just because a device can make headphones make noise really doesn't mean anything. I dont' think there's a dynamic out there (K1k included) that will shut down an amp. Shoot, my Ipod can make the K340s make sound but that doesn't tell me a thing about the output stage. The reality remains that no portable is going to do much for the K340s especially fed by a low output portable source.