Tyrion is right, my idea wasn't about "eating or listening" but about downgrading to a point where one would be content while maintaining the style of listening one currently does. So for tyrion and I, that means vinyl is included and should be included for anyone trying this out. If you have a vinyl rig, minimize it. If you have a digital rig, minimize that. If you have both, minimize both like he and I did.
True enough that some would think that $1500 is quite a bit but the point wasn't merely about getting as low as possible, again, I could listen to an AM radio and be content with a steady stream of good music but I wouldn't be in the hobby anymore. $1500 would keep me going enough in all facets without changing my current listening habits. UM2's for night time listening, work and on the go. SR60's for home listening and semi-active (I'd have to mod the cable, I used to do active things with the SR60's back in the late 90's and it wasn't fun).
The Tivoli for speakers and tuning the radio, the iPod for my digital (I'd need my comp to get the tunes on there...but the comp is not strictly for audio so I assume I can keep that in my hypothetical without too much fuss.)