Razlaw:

Personally, given the imploding economy, I find the cost issue moot. We'll have a divergence between those who have silly money to spend, and those who don't. And as Trip said above, B&O's chain of dealerships is probably irrelevant if the company thinks it's going to survive by providing to those with silly money to spend - those customers are never close to the buying decision anyway, as they have A/V installers, interior decorators and home-entertainment-consultants doing it all for them.

However, if we are to understand the plan from B&O right, it appears that they wish to make a stand in Russia and Asia. This in spite of the fact that their present Russian go-between is very skeptical of a large number of new dealerships being opened there, as he fears it will destroy they brand's cachet (he could also be looking out for his own interests, being the only one presently dealing the brand now).
But with a number of analysts predicting a recession in Russia, and with the Asian bourses being dodgy, not to speak of manufacturing and import numbers, that might not be the wisest strategy. It becomes a bit like GM trying to find someone foolish enough to buy their underengineered cars, and trusting the Chinese to keep liking GM (because it's got General in it) and Buick (which sells a storm in China.) But for how long?

It's a curse. With most bespoke items you can count on your buying public not to bother about how up to date the technology is. Buy a pair of Purdey or Fürstenberg shotguns, and you'll be out the cost of three BMW X5 full spec'd cars, for instance. But with audiovisual, you can't sell 19th century technology at premium. Still I can actually see the sense in closing all of B&O's dealerships, and just delivering bespoke, ultimate A/V solutions to the silly money crowd (the ones that think nothing of spending the cost of a BeoVision 9 for a couple of buckets of champagne at the right table, at the right night club.)

Yet - it would be kind of a let down for the hundreds of thousands of diehard fans of the brand who would then be closed off from the B&O experience. And it kind of does play the dealers for chumps, many hundreds of whom have invested their private ambitions and fortunes into the brand.

It's difficult.

My take on it: B&O has to focus on audiovisual excellence. Today's stores, which are fashioned as a cross between a tile emporium and a jewelry store, have to become engaging. Visiting a B&O store is like being the first visitor in a museum on a Sunday. The stores have to become audiovisual experience paradises, where you get thrills no one else can give you, and B&O customers should have access to exclusive audiovisual content, that no one else gets. Delivered in perfectly integrated, high resolution audio and video, with two-way, touch screen remotes. That should do it - I think.

have a look @ this

Razlaw:

B & O in Jersey likewise sell the Pioneer & Panasonic plasmas alongside the BV4's, and I agree with Razlaw that the BV4 picture is superior. With the BS3 and some Beolabs whats not to like?

Except the price of course :)

Why don't we all just agree that B&O is doing everything absolutely perfect, is 100% ahead of every other panel, technologically speaking, and on top of that, they represent the best possible value money can buy!

...because it's obvious that one side is attempting to say that each of the two arguments is appropriate for it's specific audience, while on the other hand, the other side is blatantly saying, "you're wrong."

I, for one hand, think there are shades of grey in the world.  Reducing the world to black and white tends to advance the argument for neither black nor white, so to speak. 

I think we can agree that everybody in this forum cares about B&O and that critics is meant constructive. This reminds me of the 90ies when Apple was stuck into economical problems and everybody tried to save Apple. Apple had the technologic potential but only could grow again after their visionary Steve Jobs came back. 

I always was an advocate against B&O dispraisers who alleged that B&O makes nice casing for cheap technology. With today's B&O product line, I have some difficulties to bring forward my arguments for many products. B&O has the potential but blew it with products like DVD2, Beo5, Serene, Serenata and the inability to keep up with the fast paced development of digital media.

B&O should focus on speakers, high quality AV receivers, high quality audio systems and novel technology displays.