I've had mixed experiences with b&m audio stores.

And there is definitely some point of diminishing returns with expensive equipment (I'm not sure exactly where it is).

Internet direct companies make shopping much easier and more comfortable, and offer excellent value.

One thing that a b&m store offers that I appreciate is the ability to hear a variety of different equipment in person with your own music. As they disappear, that gets harder to find (you can audition stuff on youtube and hear a bit, but it's not the same as listening in person).

With audition periods from ID companies, you could order different things and try them out at home, but that gets a bit tedious, and you generally have to pay for shipping.