The only person to whom you should have to justify your purchases is yourself, and you should generally do that before you make the purchase, not after. Nobody should need to prove their gear is better than anybody else's. As long as you like it yourself, it shouldn't make a difference. When it comes to gear selection, there isn't a "burden of proof", and nor should there be. If you feel that your gear isn't worth ownership unless the purchase is validated by other people, that probably speaks to a more profound sense of insecurity, one that likely transcends the realm of personal audio.
Comparing the O2 to TOTL is in and of itself a loaded topic, because I don't think there's a single standard definition of what constitutes "TOTL" to begin with. By its very nature, it's a polarizing question, so I don't see how anybody can expect such a thread to exist without it breaking out into a massive argument. I don't even know if people are arguing about gear, so much as they're arguing about semantics. So, the more apt question is, what does "TOTL" mean to you? Is it defined by measurements? By aesthetics? By the sound signature that best suits your ears? By cost? If you ask five different audiophiles, then you'll probably get five different answers, which is very much in line with the spirit of the hobby. In a hobby relating to a subjective sensorineural experience, there isn't necessarily a "right" and "wrong" answer. So, "O2 vs. TOTL" is doomed to a futile existence.
In my opinion, the O2 sounds great, and is a damn good value for its price. Just don't expect me to cancel my BHSE order anytime soon, though.
